FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE POWER OF A TEACHER ~ 02 September 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

THE POWER OF A TEACHER

Yesterday, I related the story of a young man who had been labeled as "retarded," yet achieved remarkable success because of one teacher who convinced him that someone else's judgment need not become his reality. The account pointed out the importance of a healthy self-image, and the power of a vision. Today, I want to expand on that thought a bit. What was it that made the teacher in that story so different? Confidence? Experience? Expertise? No, I think it was something far more basic. Let me illustrate with another example.

Eric Butterworth tells the story of a college professor who once sent his sociology class into the Baltimore slums to take case histories on 200 boys. Based on these histories, and their previous studies of sociology, the students then evaluated each boy's likelihood of future success. In every case the prognosis was the same: "This kid doesn't have a chance."

Twenty-five years later, another professor came across that study and had his students follow up. The shocking results contradicted all accepted sociological theory. Twenty of the subjects had died, or had moved away and could not be located. Of the remaining 180, however, all but four had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors and businessmen! What could account for this remarkable turn of events?

Intrigued, the professor investigated the matter further. Soon a consistent pattern began to emerge. Each of these men had been motivated and encouraged by a teacher. In fact, by the SAME teacher! She was much older now, but still alive and alert, so the learned scholar sought her out. "What magical formula," he asked, "had she had used to pull these boys out of the slums and into successful careers?" Her eyes sparkled as she said with a gentle smile, "It's really very simple; I LOVED those boys."

That's the real key, isn't it? As someone has said, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." I have an acquaintance who wants very much to be a coach. He is knowledgeable of his sport, experienced (as a player) and credentialed as a coach. Yet he has proven to be totally ineffective at teaching and motivating young players. Why? They view him as a "bully" -- arrogant, uncaring and harsh. And the fact that they neither respect nor trust him is reflected in their performance.

Consider, on the other hand, the example of Annie Sullivan, who took on the task of training a child with multiple handicaps. In his book, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO HEALTH AND NOT BEING SICK, Bruce Larson points out that, when Ms. Sullivan began her work, her charge was little more than a "hostile, rebellious, untamed animal." With "tough love", however, Ms. Sullivan fought her way in to the girl's life and released one of the most gifted and inspirational women of all time -- Helen Keller. Larson concludes, "Each of us has the power to perform miracles of that sort, if we can begin to communicate to other people that they are important to us, and of supreme value in the sight of God."

One of the most cherished passages in the Christian scriptures (I Corinthians 13) concludes with the statement that three things -- faith, hope and love -- will last throughout eternity. "But the greatest of these," it advises, "is love." May our lives and our legacies reflect that guiding principle.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

He Who blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - may He bless the fighters of the Israel Defense Force, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our G-d from the border of the Lebanon to the desert of Egypt, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Aravah, on the land, in the air, and on the sea.

May HASHEM cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them. May the Holy One, Blessed is He, preserve and rescue our fighting men from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under their sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory. And may there be fulfilled for them the verse: For it is Hashem, your G-d, Who goes with you to battle your enemies for you to save you.

G-d bless and keep your children safe, Alouette.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Ooops! I got my bones mixed up (more than once I think).

Showering with a cast is always fun...garbage bag time. Be really careful using the stairs. That’s why you have kids to help you.

[wintertime]

There are several things that need to be pointed out in this essay:

Yesterday, I related the story of a young man who had been labeled as "retarded,"

Who had labeled this kid as "retarded"? Answer: Likely nearly all of his government school teachers, principals, and possibly a government school psychologist of some sort.

That the child found **one** teacher that had the courage to think differently was extremely **lucky**! Think of the many children who did not have his luck and went through their lives wrongly believing they were "retarded" or ADD, ADHD, or had some other alphabet disability.

Maybe the lesson to be learned is nearly all government teachers, principals, and psychologists are incompetent, have something to gain by wrongly labeling a child "retarded", or they evil. Maybe the best action for a parent to take is to NEVER let a child step foot in a government school.

"What magical formula," he asked, "had she had used to pull these boys out of the slums and into successful careers?" Her eyes sparkled as she said with a gentle smile, "It's really very simple; I LOVED those boys."

One of the most cherished passages in the Christian scriptures (I Corinthians 13) concludes with the statement that three things -- faith, hope and love --

The author of this story is making a mistake that many modern Christians make.

The "love" spoken of in Corinthians is translated as "charity" in the King James version. "Charity" at one time in our Christian history was plainly understood to mean the type of love that Christ showed to us. Charity then is far far far **more** that merely feeling love toward another as we understand the word, "love" to mean today, and as the author of this essay **misapplies** Corinthians's word "love" in his essay. Charity, or the Corinthians's word "love", means total devotion, willingness to sacrifice all, even to go as far as Christ's Atonement.

I encourage others to do a Google search on the words: The Christian meaning of the word charity.

[wintertime]

If this is a special type of thread, ( “devotional”?), which I am never able to properly identify, please remove my post.

[ConorMacNessa]

LOL! It is indeed fun - My son first provided me with a 33 gallon lawn bag - had a tear in the bottom of all things. I told him to get me a kitchen trash bag - perfect fit. Tied it up and taped it at the top - no leakage.

The stairs were nowhere near as much of a problem as I thought they would be. We have a rail on each side so it's fairly easy to pull myself up. Still a little dicey climbing down. I have one of the sons spot me on my way up and down.



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to The Mayor family.

Hope you’ve have a restful Saturday, with nice weather.

[oldteen]

Good evening, Kathy! *hugs*

A Sunday of Blessings to you and the folks!

Everyone doing well? Are you getting some needed rest on this 3 day weekend?

[oldteen]

Good evening, Sir Conor! *hugs*

A Blessed Lord's Day to the MacNessa family!

Having a spotter is quite helpful (and necessary) when on those stairs! Hope you heal quickly!

[ConorMacNessa]

Benediction of Timothy Cardinal Dolan at the Republican National Convention, August 30, 2012



“With firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, let us pray. Almighty God, Father of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus, we beg your continued blessings on this sanctuary of freedom, and on all of those who proudly call America home,” he began. “We ask your benediction upon those yet to be born, and on those who are about to see you at the end of this life. Bless those families whose ancestors arrived on these shores generations ago, as well as those families that have come recently, to build a better future while weaving their lives into the rich tapestry of America.

We lift up to your loving care those afflicted by the recent storms, drought, and fire. We ask for the grace to stand in solidarity with all those who suffer. May we strive to include your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free in the production and prosperity of a people so richly blessed.

O God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us, and on those who would govern us: the president, and vice president, the Congress, the Supreme Court, and on all those who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office, especially Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country. And help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself.

Almighty God, who gives us the sacred and inalienable gift of life, we thank you as well for the singular gift of liberty. Renew in all of our people a respect for religious freedom in full, that first most cherished freedom. Make us truly free by tethering freedom to truth and ordering freedom to goodness. Help us live our freedom in faith, hope and love, prudently and with justice, courageously and in a spirit of moderation. Enkindle in our hearts a new sense of responsibility for freedom’s cause and make us ever grateful for all those who for more than two centuries have given their lives in freedom’s defense. We commend their noble souls to your eternal care as even now we beg your mighty hand upon our beloved men and women in uniform. May we know the truth of your creation, respecting the laws of nature and nature’s God and not seek to replace it with idols of our own making.

Give us the good sense not to cast aside the boundaries of righteous living you first inscribed on our hearts even before inscribing them on tablets of stone. May you mend our every flaw, confirming our soul in self control, our liberty in law. We pray for all those who seek honest labor as we thank you for the spirit of generosity to those in need [with] which you so richly blessed this nation. We beseech your blessing on all who depart this evening and on all those in every land who seek to conduct their lives in freedom.

Most of all, Almighty God, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country. For we are indeed one nation under God, and in God we trust. Dear God, bless America, you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.”

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Teenie!

*HUGS*

A Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours! Thanks very much for the kind words!



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Doc and Jinxy!

Just post the link some where accessible.....I'd like to see it too.

Hope you've a goodly supply of old wire coat hangers, Doc....they do come in handy when your leg is in a cast.

[oldteen]

Evenin' ML! *hugs*

Got sunshine yet? Riding the Harley possible? Did your house hold up to the weather? Closing soon?

A Blessed Sunday and Shabbat Shalom to you! (Sun is still shining here...lol)

[oldteen]

Bible reading and prayer should reflect a two-way communication.

Amen, Mayor!

A Blessed Lord's day to you and yours!

[oldteen]

Evenin' ColdOne! *hugs*

How's things in Idaho? Weather cooling down? Fred enjoying life?

A Blessed Sunday to all!

[ConorMacNessa]

Hi, Biglook! Hope things are going well with you! I'm afraid I'm going to have to hit the sack at this juncture - very tired. Have just about enough left to make it up the stairs.



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[oldteen]

Was just reading about the fragility of sand castles in Charlotte...

LOL...evenin' HJ! *hugs*

Pathetic, isn't it?

[oldteen]

Absolutely true, mountainlion.

Thank you and have a wonderful Lord's Day!

[mylife]

A Wing and a Prayer

Well folks I face planted myself last night.
I probably could use 13 stitches on my Occipital protuberance

[oldteen]

Evenin' G-pa! *hugs*

How are those babies doing? Nate walking yet?

A Sunday of Blessings to you and Mrs. SR!

[oldteen]

Aloha BIG guy! *hugs*

Howz thingz across the water?

You're right...them wire coat hangers are a necessity with a cast! (Clean ones of course..lol).