Time for Sharing

It's been a long time since I have written. I experienced a bit of a "rough patch" and I had to work my way through it. I don't really know what caused it - I just got to thinking about all the loved ones I have lost over the years and I realized how much I missed my mother and my best friend. They have both been gone for a long time: my dear friend passed away in 1990 and my mom left us in 1993. It was strange in a way that I went through another grieving process after so many years; perhaps it was because it was the 20Th. anniversary of my friend's death. I kept hearing her voice and seeing her beloved face in my dreams at night and it was like she was trying to tell me to keep going, to continue my writing and my teaching, that I was doing some good, even though I couldn't see any results. Her message was one of encouragement and love and I am thankful now for those dreams because they motivated me to keep going when I was at a point where I wanted to give up.

So, I plodded forward: working at my summer job, writing, and getting ready for teaching in the fall. And life has been good. I have learned to believe in myself again and I am enthusiastic about my classes, which are going very well. I teach adult students and one of them told me today how much she appreciated the fact that I didn't "preach"; I shared my knowledge and skills in a way that made the class feel as if I really cared about them. And I do; they are very special to me because I haven't forgoten the days when I went back to school to obtain my certifcate in administration. I remember how hard it was; I knew I had a family to support and these ladies are no different. I can't promise them a bright future and I don't, but what I can promise them is that they will obtain skills and knowledge that will enable them to be an asset for any organization they work for. I am so happy when they see the results of their hard work on an assignment or an exam. I am moved by the pride I see in each face when each successive mark obtained is higher than the last one. To me, that is what teaching is all about: sharing in their successes and celebrating each milestone.

I hope all of you have shared something of yourself recently. The feeling you get when you "give" is indescribable. Today, I took a load of groceries to a family who recently lost their home in a fire. There are eight children in that household. How could I not give when I have so many blessings? I dropped the food off at the home of a friend of this family and she expressed such gratitude. But you know something? I didn't do it to receive thanks. I did it because it was the right thing to do. If you share in someone's joy, you can surely share in their sorrow, too.

It is the time of year to share; I hope you will count all the blessings you have, and decide to share some of your good fortune with someone in need.