Christmas Eve hike with the family before settling down to dinner and family activities! This year we performed Scrooge!
One of my favorite finds this year is a Tedtalk by Clint Smith. I shared it with my students two ways- first we listened to Smith deliver it with such power and conviction and then we read it together the printed copy. I loved hearing it and then experiencing it again. I think in teaching sometimes I go so quickly over material that we don’t get to fully digest the powerful message within. I’m so glad I have students who value and are motivated by living righteous principles. So in the speech, Smith talks about a season of Lent when he gave up his voice. I had a similar experience in junior high when I decided that I was going to be nice in every way including never saying a negative word about anyone or anything. It lasted for about 3/4 of the school year. I have to say that I really gave it a good try. But what I found was that I pretty much gave up my voice too and with that no one really valued my opinion. It was an interesting experiment that taught me how important it is to be real. I can be positive and not talk badly about others but I still have a voice and I should stand up for principles that I believe in even when it doesn’t make other’s happy. I think I was trying so hard to be perfect and in that also to please everyone which we all know isn’t possible.
Smith goes on to make such great points. At the end of his talk he says: “I will not let silence wrap itself around my indecision…I will ask that homeless man what his name is and how his day was, because sometimes all people want to be is human. I will tell that woman that my students can talk about transcendentalism like their last name was Thoreau, and just because you watched one episode of “The Wire” doesn’t mean you know anything about my kids. So this year, instead of giving something up, I will live every day as if there were a microphone tucked under my tongue, a stage on the underside of my inhibition. Because who has to have a soapbox when all you’ve ever needed is your voice?”
Even at 56, I still grapple with wanting to please everyone and with that wanting everyone to like me. I want to lose that this year. I want to share my voice this year so I can be authentic to myself and to my God who created me. I want to make a difference by sharing my voice and to encourage others to share their voice too!
So here is our Daily theme for 2015:
DAILY FAMILY THEME 2015
Read Critically
Write Consciously
Speak Clearly
Tell Your Truth
“What does it mean to stand as a witness of God? It means we will not bow down or give in or be persuaded to do anything contrary to God’s will. It means we will risk speaking up when our knees are shaking. It means we will listen and follow the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost.” Sharon G. Larsen
Maggie- Ghost of Christmas Present, Past and Future w/ Uncle Taylor
No comments yet.