An
animal photo, recently sent to me illustrates
2
of the greatest qualities in life:
Beagle
sits patiently...feet planted firmly on the ground...
eyes
his blue dog-dish...full of appetizing nibbles;
however,
a black creature with white-striped back
is
enjoying canine's tasty meal.
Dog
realizes and hopes that 'patience precedes his wisdom.'
Nail
in the Fence
(with thanks to Tom for this submission)
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His father gave him a bag of nails ~ and told him that every time he
lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the
next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of
nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was
easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy did not lose his temper at all. He
told his father about it and the father suggested that that the boy
now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his
temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father
that all the nails were gone from the back of the fence.
The
father took his son by the hand and leading him to the fence said,
“You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.
The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they
leave a scar just like this one; you can put a knife in a breathing
soul and draw it out; it won't matter how many times you say “I'm
Sorry”
the wound is still there.”
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Influence
from Plato
(written by Samantha, a Grade 11 Cathedral Catholic Secondary School)
Plato, you were so caught up in the waves of a lost metropolis, a
population tucked into bed by the Atlantic Ocean and kissed on the
forehead by the forgotten ~ just what made you talk of Atlantis ~ a
city you never saw ~ a city of folk tale and sea shells. Maybe you
wanted to escape...have it wash upon shore for a while...so you could
have a chance to drown with it...maybe you wanted to get lost in the
cold blue water. You thought of Atlantis like it was God's
sea-castle...full of bliss at one moment...but soon enough the cold
awakening of the Atheist Ocean would creep up, pulling it away.
It is foolish to think you could be happy.
Never
Give Up!
(written by Isra, Grade 12, Cathedral Catholic Secondary School)
“There
are really 2 secrets to surviving life at high school, but I do have
some advice to reduce stress and have as much fun as possible. In
Grade 9, my best friend and older sister helped me to adjust but my
first school day was horrible! I couldn't find my glasses...I
spilled pop in my school bag...I didn't talk to anyone...I was teased
about my appearance. By Grade 10, I lost the few friends...started
skipping classes...watched my marks drop drastically. In Grade 11, I
went to classes...completed my work...was still unhappy with my
grades and myself. Grade 12 brought much more pressure: Would I
graduate on time? Should I pay for grad photos? Should I go to
Prom? Should I apply to college?
I did graduate, yet unprepared for post-secondary studies.
Then
I heard about The
Turning Point program
at Mohawk College,
where I was able to take the Grade 12 English course needed)
I start College in September ~ and very excited about the next
chapter in my life.”
Whale
Cove-bound Shipping Container Gets New Artistic Look
A photo in the Burlington Post: Grade 7 students of St. Anne
Catholic School give Whale Cove shipping container a little artistic
flair. When a 20-foot shipping container makes its way to an isolated
Nunavut community in summer '18, it will do so with an artistic new
look. That's courtesy of Art teacher, Evonne Quintana and Grade 7
students at Burlington's St. Anne Catholic School who recently put a
stylish stamp on the Whale Cove container that is filled with dry
food and clothing.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), St. Raphael Conference
adopted the isolated village on the west coast of Hudson Bay last
year and plans on making annual charitable shipments ~ with the
inaugural 2-month journey from Montreal beginning in mid July.
St. Raphael...St. Paul...and St. Anne schools have contributed to the
campaign as has Brantford's SSVP.
Whale Cove ~ a community of just over 400 ~
named
for the many Beluga Whales that frequent the coastal waters
is situated above the 'tree line' where rock, water and ice form the
landscape
and no roads to other setttlements exist.
AS a result: food is very expensive and housing is very limited.
How
a Paper Route Helps Kids ~ and Parents
“Aside
from money management, there are 'big picture' things children
learn,”
writes Latham Hunter, a writer and professor of cultural studies.
“After
years of listening to my students describe how little they knew
about money
management, I
reckoned it was a good idea for my 3 oldest to get weekly paper
routes. My middle child got hers when she was almost 9, which is
young. She was so steadfast in trudging along and helping her older
brother with his routes every week, that after a few months, we
agreed to let her have her own.
They lug the stacks of papers and flyers into the house...
put them together...pack them up...load the van...
and then their Dad drives them from our rural concession to their
routes in and around the village.
My
13-year-old when asked what he likes about delivering papers,
replied, “When
it's done!”
I hope it means he's getting satisfaction from honest work, even
though he doesn't relish the task.
The
kids are paid 10 cents per house by the paper; they're allowed to
collect tips once a month, so the vast majority of their income
depends on connecting
with the customers. Going
up and knocking on doors to ask for money is hard enough ~ but to
carry on a short conversation can be daunting.
Other parents may disagree with me ~ but we've asked the kids to save
everything they make.
The consequences and regret of a mis-guided purchase just wouldn't
stick. I'm hoping that earning money would instil as much
responsibility and awareness as looking back on misguided purchases.
* * * * * * *
James Kelly of Etobicoke, saved enough money from his paper route to
finance a trip to Uganda.
He's shown in colour photo with folded papers in hand....and pulling
a wagon
with remainder of papers to be delivered on his route.
Saint Augustine stated, “Faith is to believe in what you do not
see.
The reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”
Writer: Merle Baird-Kerr...July 15, 2018
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