The large percent of students are back in school now. Many of them definitely want to go back to school, but quite a few of them don’t
want to go to school at all. When I read the “Southside Back to School” from the Daily Journal, I felt that the schools in this area
have gotten much ready for having students coming there again this year.
I know many teachers who are doing so much for their students
year by year. Because many young people enjoy learning more day by day, teachers are helping almost every one of the young people
who are in their classes. Many parents are also helping their sons and daughters and that is very important for their children to
focus on learning at school. Also, students are friends with other people there. Again, that is valuable for them.
Actually, the parents
are holding the key to their children’s education. It is wonderful for parents to do so much for their children from year to year.
Of course, when I was counseling, I saw many parents who really didn’t want to do much for their children. They were doing many other
things in their lives as opposed to doing lots of things for their children. That was very hurting for the students and that was high
on their list. It wasn’t important for them to learn much as opposed to being more concerned at home.
Part of the support that is needed
includes going to school for activities that will help show the students that we are concerned and lovingly with every phase of their
education. Some parents are choosing for events mostly in evening with their children. This sends a clear message to the student as
to what the parent thinks is more valuable for themselves and not for their children.
For sure, many students need help from time to
time. So many parents are very positive about their children and that is a blessing for every one of them. One day, I spoke with a
girl whose stepfather had molested her. He had had this problem before but, because the mother does not want to risk the break-up
of her fourth marriage, she blames the girl for what happen ed. She slapped her daughter and yelled her name,
which did not help the
girl’s already damaged self-image. The girl then came with me for counseling and her stepfather was in a court hearing. I loved to
be with her to give her some help.
There are so many students who are honored throughout the classes and the school. That helps them
so very much to be learning every class as much as possible. We know that everyone of us who had gone in school over the years, we
wouldn’t be relatively perfect in each class. I, personally, wasn’t totally doing well in the math classes. I was doing so much better
in other classes, but I wasn’t doing as well in the math classes. We had many good teachers in the Greenwood High School and now it
is very much higher on the list of the students who are there every year.
There are some teachers who are willing to have students
with problems. One of them that I know is doing so much for kids who are experiencing difficulty in a long list of concerns. In addition
to teaching, she helps them in so many ways and that is a blessing for them.
There is so much that is going on in every school, but
the percentage of students who are doing well is high on the list. It is important for all of us to help them and pray for them.
Our ladies’ Bible study has been wonderful for eleven years from our church. The one that we are starting this September is the book
- “Women of Faith - Living Above Worry and Stress”. We decided to use it throughout the year because we all have some worry and stress.
As
Christians, we are often expected to have all sunny days and happy experiences. Maybe we do give that impression, but it is not that
life is good to us - it is that God is so good to us!
When our days are dark, we can always seek and know the continuing source of
life. Throughout almost every one’s life, days are dark.
In times when boredom is common for so many of us, Christ is lovingly and
longingly stands at the door and knocks and offers to come in and dwell with us eternally.
How can life be joyous when evil is so rampant?
How can we live victoriously when turmoil surrounds us? How can we look at our children and have any peace for their futures?
As a
teacher and a counselor, I see troubled young people whose only chance at true happiness is to walk with the Christ who said, “Lo,
I am with you always - even to the end of the world”. This is the Jesus I know on these dark days because “God commended His life
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.
If we had to bear these burdens alone, we would soon find our souls
crushed beneath the weight. But we have Someone who took our burdens to the cross with Himself, so that they become Him. Our dept
was paid in full, and if that weren’t enough, He said, “I will pray the Father and He will give you another comforter that He will
abide with you forever”.
What peace and joy that brings to my heart! To know, as Paul said, “that neither death not life…nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come…nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Not everyone has a startling experience in meeting Christ as Paul did on the road to Damascus. We hear
about many today who experience such a dramatic meeting with the Master. But for many, including myself, our knowledge of Christ’s
presence in our lives is more like those on the other road - the road to Emmaus. There were two who walked and talked with Christ
but didn’t know Him, until God opened their eyes to reveal their Savior. With Him, any road we walk takes on different meanings and
life becomes worth the living in whatever circumstances we find for ourselves.
That is how I face the world today - with that promise
for the future - “Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus”. - and we can face the future because He
lives.
Our Koinonia Bible study times, we speak with the Bible and the new book yet again. We love to hear God speak to us through
the information that we have received.
Marya Jo. Butler, September 2007
Board of Contributors
So many people love to be celebrating the Christmas Day! Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are enjoying getting gifts for so
many friends and family members. We thank God for His Son as we are excited for the whole month from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
When
we purchase gifts for family members and friends throughout the month for Christmas Day, we are excited to give them something that
they really like. We do all that because we care for them.
There are many things throughout our lives that we can do for others. For
example, after I had retired from Perry Township. and then started to supervise students for 7 years as they were ready to teach students.
As I needed to give them some messages of information about what they had done for students, I gave them positive messages so that
they would be pleased. Later, I gave them a small list of suggestions. I wanted to keep them high on their list that they would be
helping students.
Now, I’m tutoring at the Greenwood Middle School for students. When I meet them, I thank them to come and when they
are leaving, I tell them to have a wonderful Christmas Day. They are very kind and I love to be with them. Several people are there
on Tuesday and Thursday to do anything for the students and we truly enjoy helping them.
When we purchase a gift for anyone for Christmas,
we know that we love and care for them. We do an Angel Tree at our church to help kids who have Dad or Mother in a prison. They really
enjoy how much we all help them.
Anyway, because I began to be a teacher - and later a counselor - I loved the students and many of
the parents I wanted to say to them that they would have a wonderful Christmas Day. It is positive to do so much for all of them.
When any of us are being positive, as opposed to being negative, we thank God for the people that we will be able to do something
for them. We want to do so much for those who have a special need and concern. When we celebrate Christmas Day, then we know that
we must do anything for friends, family, and others.
I wish that almost everyone would be positive and caring. Christmas Day is a very
special time to enjoy our Bible and our Lord. Then, we decide to do so much for others in Jesus’ name.
Thank all of you for being kind
to family, friends, and others. We ask everyone to have a wonderful Christmas Day, too!
Board of Contributors
Marya Jo. Butler,
December 2007
