Daily Stop & Thinks

Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers. (Author Unknown)

Picking flowers is a bit like working with students. Gardens may have beautiful flowers, but they also have weeds and thorns. To get the flowers, you may have to pull some weeds and bump into thorns. Likewise, to get the best out of a classroom of students, you may meet some who are hard to work with, but perseverance will produce the desired bouquet.

The wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy (Isaiah 35:1-2)

If you aren’t good at anything much, it doesn’t mean that you’re good for nothing. (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

Most people probably don’t have a single outstanding talent or ability that makes them appear superior in any public way. Most of us are probably competent in what we do but not necessarily exceptional. Brown is likely reminding us that we have all been given abilities that will enable us to make a worthwhile contribution for the good of society.

[E]ach of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that (1 Corinthians 7:7). Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).

Intense love does not measure; it just gives. (Mother Theresa, 20^th century nun and missionary

With all the emphasis on love in modern music and theater, you could easily get the impression that it is a highly sought-after emotion because of the personal satisfaction it gains. In other words, it’s very self-centered. We love those who give us a sense of value or worth. But true love is not self-seeking. Rather, it seeks to serve others and give them worth.

Love is patient, love is kind. . . .  [I]t is not self-seeking. . . . It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Let us remember what hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor but the silence of the bystander. (Elie Wiesel, late Romanian-born American Jewish Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor)

We live in a world of widespread violence and terror. Our hearts go out in sympathy to those who suffer at the hands of criminals and terrorists. People often think “It can’t happen here,” but when it does, too often the response from observers is limited. As Wiesel suggests, the pain of personal suffering is bad enough, but to be ignored and not helped hurts much more.

Praise be to . . . the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

At the profoundest depths of life, people talk not about God but with Him. (Elton Trueblood, 20^th century American Quaker author)

Even in a secular society, people often speak about God. Sometimes, they unconsciously take His name in vain. At other times, they refer to “the Man upstairs” or use some other innocuous term. Conversations about God are usually only on a surface level. But, when one is in deep trouble or has a great need, he or she often begins to talk with God.

Be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray (1 Peter 4:7). The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).

Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough. (Groucho Marx, 20^th century comedian and actor)

We joke a lot about age and growing old, but it’s a fact of life; if you’re alive, you’re aging. But, as Chili Davis (baseball player and coach) says, “Growing old is mandatory—growing up is optional.” There’s a lot to learn and a lot to do during one’s allotted years, so we would do well to pay attention to how we live more than how long.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

In a controversy, the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for truth and have begun striving for ourselves. (Abraham J. Heschel, 20^th century Polish-born American rabbi)

When we’re having an argument about serious issues, it’s difficult not to become angry, isn’t it? We are so sure we are right that we sometimes just don’t control our emotions. We seem to think that truth needs us to defend it, but most often, we’re really just defending ourselves. When we learn to control our emotions, we’ll be better defenders of the truth.

For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife (Proverbs 30:33).

The most important strategy in your personal life is to have one—a personal life, that is. (Karen Saakvitne & Laurie Pearlman, counselors and authors)

It is sometimes true of counselors, pastors, preachers, teachers, and therapists that they are so wrapped up in their clients’ issues, they rarely take time for their own health and emotional needs. That often leads to burn out and breakdowns. People need to get away from everyday work occasionally, for they were designed for times of rest and restoration.

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets. (Paul Tournier, 20^th century Swiss physician and author)

Sometime, we may be asked if we can keep a secret. If we say we can, we may be told something that we’ll have a hard time keeping to ourselves. On the other hand, we may want to share our secret with someone, but for one reason or another we just can’t share it. Then, we may feel isolated because we’re carrying our burden alone. That’s hard and lonely!

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

I believe in the sun even when it isn’t shining. I believe in love even when I’m alone. (Graffiti found on a cellar wall where Jews hid during World War II)

The last line was: “And I believe in God even when He is silent.” Even on those dark, dreary, cloudy days when we can’t see the sun, we know it is still shining above the clouds. In times when you’re separated form the ones you love, you still are assured of their love. How heartening it is to know that God is still in control even when there are few signs of it.

We eagerly await a Savior from [heaven] . . . who, [has] power that enables him to bring everything under his control (Philippians 3:20, 21).

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought. [Pope John Paul II]

Americans are usually quite proud of the freedoms they enjoy in this republic. Christians enjoy, as well, the freedoms offered to them in the gospel. In both cases, people sometimes abuse their liberty, thinking that they can do whatever they want to do whenever and wherever they feel like it. We would do well to heed the Pope’s reminder.

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil (1 Peter 2:16).

To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. (Aristotle, 4^th century B.C. Greek philosopher)

That warning says a lot about today’s society, doesn’t it? People seem to be so opinionated and judgmental that almost anything you say to them will be criticized—justly or unjustly. Oh, that life were different, but it often isn’t. So, as we strive to avoid unnecessary confrontation, we must not be afraid to speak the truth always in appropriate ways.

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts (Zechariah 8:16).