Author: Jeanne Lemmon Skinner

Time for a Change!

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The Monarch butterflies are feasting in preparation for their journey south.

The butterflies and hummingbirds are both eating heartily in preparation for their journey, and I get to enjoy watching them enjoy my garden. It’s a time to move forward. The kids are back at school facing new experiences and new challenges. My new challenge is figuring out my new laptop.

I’ve been without my computer for almost two weeks and it’s been a time of extreme stress. My old laptop was 14 years old and retrieving the data from the old was not easy. The computer whizzes figured it out, but I was worried. None of my documents were backed up, and I was afraid of losing my novels. I almost cried when I learned they had safely transferred my data. Today I sent my novel to an agent.

I’m moving forward like the students and I share their nervousness. As a teacher, I was always nervous when school began and as a writer, I’m nervous reaching out to agents.

Fall will return with cooler temperatures, colorful leaves and football. I will continue to write and direct a play I’ve written for my church. I have new challenges and am eager to embrace them. It’s an exciting time for sure!

Red Rover and Redwoods

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Joined hands provide strength, protection and confidence.

Red rover, red rover, I dare Susan to come over, was a familiar sound on playgrounds growing up. We held tightly to each other and only the biggest kids could break through our fence of arms. Unfortunately, arms got broken and children were hurt so the game had to end. The positive thing about the game was the confidence holding hands gave us. Strength flowed through our arms and hands and we felt we were impenetrable. It was a great feeling that other games didn’t provide. I think it was because we were physically connected. Our strength was created because of the connection and that gave us confidence.

The redwood trees have a shallow root system that spreads out and connects with others. It’s like joining hands. The roots find support and share nutrients from this connection. These enormous trees stand against fierce winds because their roots are intertwined. They are confident they can defeat the wind because they support each other.

Reading about the redwood trees reminded me of red rover which made me think how I am connected to others. This has been a summer of reunions. Family, co-workers and classmates are all connected to me. When I reflect on the past, I can say I survived strong winds because of the people whose sturdy roots supported me. I believe everyone needs that kind of support and am thankful I found it.

I have fond memories of playing red rover and seeing the redwoods, and now I have a new appreciation for those who shared their roots with me.

Don’t Make Me Go!

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The things we don’t want to do are often the things we learn the most from.

I admit I was a wimp when I was little. I never wanted to leave home, but every summer I went to my grandparents’ farm to stay a week. I cried of course, and I also had a good time. The highlight of the week was fishing. I learned to put a worm on my hook, and I learned patience waiting for a bite. Every summer I went and every summer I would look for a reason not to go. As an adult, I remember it fondly.

I recently learned about the prophet Jonah. Everyone probably knows that Jonah was swallowed by a whale but the Bible calls it a huge fish. I never knew the importance of Jonah’s experience until now. God wanted Jonah to go to a city called Nineveh and tell the idol worshipping people about God, but Jonah was afraid of the violent people who lived there. Instead he got on a ship and sailed in the opposite direction. A storm came, he went overboard and spent three days inside a huge fish and then was vomited out.

Jonah agreed to go to Nineveh and preach about God. He told the people that the entire city would be destroyed in 40 days if the people didn’t repent. The people believed Jonah and the king ordered all the people and even the animals to fast and wear sack cloth in atonement for their sins. The city was spared and Jonah was angry.

Jonah had wanted these evil people destroyed for all the sins they had committed but God didn’t. God forgave his children. Jonah knew God was a loving, compassionate father, but he still wanted these awful people of Nineveh punished. The lesson here is important to share.

To truly to forgive someone who has harmed us, means we want the best for them. From my experience that only happens through prayer. I know I have said I forgive someone and still hoped their evil tongue would be covered with blisters. That is wanting punishment in exchange for my forgiveness. God educated Jonah and through him, educates us. It takes a lot of praying for this to happen, but it is worth it.

Jonah’s story is much more than being swallowed by a big fish.

The Student Teaches a Lesson

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Life’s lessons are found in surprising places.

Daylisha was an eighth grade student of mine. She was loud and full of energy. I knew when she was headed for the classroom. She wasn’t a dedicated student, but she did her work. She graduated from high school and unfortunately got into drugs. She also had a baby boy that changed her life. Today she works with people who are trying to become drug free. Daylisha is a success story.

You might be asking how did she accomplish this? The answer is God. She turned to him and asked for help. That is one lesson to learn. Many of us continue to worry and struggle to find a solution to a problem and forget to ask for God’s guidance. He tells us to bring our problems to him. Daylisha did and still does.

Last week Daylisha posted on Facebook that she had broken her ankle and sprained the other one. Her response was that she was thankful to only have broken one ankle. This young woman has a job and a son to care for and she’s thanking God that she only broke one ankle! I thought I’d probably be saying, God, you better send a lot of rain because I won’t be able to water my garden now! That clearly is a complaint and a weak plea for help.

In the Bible, ( Thessalonians 5:16-18) we read to rejoice always , pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. Daylisha reminded me of this verse. Give thanks in all circumstances.

The Giver has a memorable moment!

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The Giver by Lois Lowery grew on me.

When I first read The Giver, I did not like the book. I deemed it weird. After teaching the book, I developed an appreciation of it. At the ceremony for twelves, students are assigned their adult jobs. One student, Asher, was thanked for his childhood. I think all our children should hear this. The joy of watching young children find delight in so many things never ends. Finding a sparkly rock, catching a lightning bug and licking icing from a beater are all memory moments from a childhood. Since this is graduation season, I know many have memories of their young person’s youth and perhaps will thank the graduate for the happiness they brought.

The controlled community in The Giver does not allow color. People don’t see color and they don’t have music. They also don’t birth their own children. I said it was a weird society, but it’s truly awful. The government took away the people’s freedom to an unimaginable degree. Fortunately, the main character, Jonas, escaped with a little one and found a community where they saw color and heard music.

Today there is a lot of discussion and fear about what the government is doing. There is fear of losing our basic freedoms. We just remembered those who died fighting for our freedom and I pray that we won’t lose ours to government officials who think they know better than the people who elected them. I continue to pray for America and encourage others to do so too.

Soldiers of the Garden

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Bearded Iris are lined up for review by the head Gardener!

As you all know. I love my garden and enjoy reading the history of the flowers. I learned that iris represents valor, courage and wisdom. There are over 200 varieties of iris and its name comes from the Greek meaning rainbow. The Greek Goddess Iris was the messenger between heaven and earth and the rainbow represents the connection.

Since these iris have beards and stand along my home, I thought of them as soldiers. In creating a flower kingdom a lily would be the queen. The lily symbolizes innocence, hope and motherhood. An interesting use of lily bulbs was to mix ground bulbs with honey to treat snake bites and infection. It was also used to treat baldness and wrinkles during the Middle Ages. Interesting, but I don’t think I’ll try it.

The peony is the king of the flower kingdom. It is seen in pottery and clothing in the ancient Chinese dynasties. Peonies are not dainty flowers and can easily dominate in a garden, much like a king would! Peonies can reach a ten inch diameter and come in almost ever color but blue. I have a peony bush that was my mom’s and it is still producing beautiful flowers.

You are probably wondering about roses. Since they represent love, they are my garden’s peace makers. They provide beauty and quiet confidence that all is well. The only negative thing about roses is their thorns. If I don’t wear my thick gloves, they draw blood. They do require spraying and pruning and of course fertilizer, and it is all worth it. Roses are required members of the flower kingdom.

My flower kingdom has both perennials and annuals. Daisies bloom at the 4th of July and Black Eyed Susans bloom in August and are a sign school is about to start. June is the month of roses and lilies show their smiling faces in July. Geraniums, begonias, and marigolds provide color all summer and the deer will not eat marigolds or geraniums. Deer haven’t eaten my begonias yet, but I don’t want to be too confident.

It’s time to get my annuals planted and watch for the perennials to awaken. It is planting season and I hope you all enjoy at least a little of God’s magnificent creations!

Why Good Friday?

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I used to think Good Friday was misnamed until I understood.

Growing up Good Friday was a day off school. We went to church the night before on Maundy Thursday and colored eggs on Good Friday. We aren’t Catholic, but we didn’t eat meat on Good Friday and I still don’t. Mom bought hot cross buns to eat on Good Friday and we weren’t allowed to color eggs until after the holy hours (12:00 to 3:00) ended. Those three hours were to be spent doing something quiet and prayer was supposed to be at least a part of it. This isn’t very holy, but I remember being happy that I didn’t have to do any chores during that time. I probably thanked God for that!

I remember asking why it was called Good Friday when Jesus suffered so much that day. Being told he died for all our sins made me feel worse. He didn’t do anything wrong, but he received the punishment? I just couldn’t understand. As an adult, I get it, but it still makes me weep.

My own children were taken to church on Maundy Thursday, and we too decorated eggs on Good Friday. We also listened to the music from Godspell that day. I still do. (I gave up the hot cross buns because no one liked them. They wanted doughnuts!)

The song Day by Day is a prayer I should sing every day. The lyrics are short and meaningful: day by day, these things I pray: to see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly , to follow thee more nearly day by day. What more can be said other than to give thanks to God for his son Jesus who died and was resurrected on Easter Sunday. He appeared to his Disciples and they saw his wounds, so there was no doubt he arose from the dead. A simple song sung every day can bring such peace to me. I am thankful. Wishing you all a blessed Easter!

Snow won’t keep me from Blooming!

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People’s words can feel like icy cold snow.

My daffodils get snowed on every year so I consider them tough enough to withstand it, but young people today are experiencing icy cold words for the first time.

A teenager was working in one of our local small grocery stores wearing a Star of David. A man entered the store and noticed her. He walked up to here and asked if she was Jewish. When she answered, “Yes”, he turned and left the store.

A high school student in Canada was suspended for saying there are only two genders. This is a Catholic high school. According to the Toronto Sun article, Josh stated there are only two genders and that gender doesn’t trump biology. He was told he couldn’t return to class until he recanted his comment. When he did return to school he was arrested for trespassing. The article went on to say there were two transgender students who disapprove of Josh’s religious beliefs and therefore he wasn’t to attend the classes he shared with them if he did return. This is a Catholic School and students object to religious beliefs?

An Arizona school board member opposed a contract with a Christian University because she did not agree with their Christian beliefs. She said their beliefs were in opposition to the beliefs of the LBGT community which she and two other board members were members. The school board did not renew the contract with the Christian University in fear of student teachers teaching Christian values.

Apparently having religious beliefs is not allowed any more. Socialist countries desire obedience to the government, not God. Churches around the globe in 32 countries have been torched over a two year period. Churches have now been closed in the Ukraine and priests and pastors have been arrested.

The world has changed and that includes America. Our churches and synagogues are open but too many are trying to quiet the voices of those who believe. Believers are going to have to stand firm like my daffodils and defend the right of religious beliefs.

Fat Tuesday Celebration and Food!

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Parades, customs and food are all enjoyed before the fasting begins.

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday which is the day before Ash Wednesday and the first day of lent. Lent is 40 days (not including Sundays) before Easter and a time for prayer and repentance. Lent is not mentioned in the Bible and not all Christian denominations commemorate it. It began in the Catholic churches but in the 1960s and 70s some Protestant churches added this day to their church calendars.

The idea of fasting was and is a part of Lent. In Medieval Europe, people were told they had to eliminate eggs, fats, meat and dairy by the local priests. This was based on the 40 days Jesus fasted before he began his ministry. Today people will eliminate food from their diet or add a healthy practice such as exercise. Many pastors encourage spending more time in prayer and reading the Bible.

In the minds of many, Tuesday is their last chance to have fun and perhaps devour a pan of chocolate brownies. (Not that I can relate to that!) Pancakes and crepes were the first food to become a traditional Shrove Tuesday treat because people had to use the ingredients before Lent began. The German traditional food is Fastnachts which are doughnuts and Paczkis are a Polish jelly filled doughnut. The King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras treat. It is made in early January to be eaten on Epiphany (January 6) in celebration of the three kings arriving in Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. It is made up until Lent. A small plastic baby is placed inside the cake and whoever gets it in their piece of cake will have prosperity. The cakes all are covered with sprinkles. The purple represents power, yellow-justice and green faith.

I was in Germany as a teacher chaperone several years ago and was shown pictures of people in costumes. I asked if this was Halloween. I was told not many people celebrated Halloween and this was their Mardi Gras. Costumes, parades and lots of food. It sure looked like Halloween!

There is so much unrest in the world but religious traditions unite us. Churches will be filled on Ash Wednesday and people will receive ashes on their foreheads. Ashes were used as a sign of repentance in the Old Testament. People wore sack cloth and covered themselves with ashes and asked for God’s forgiveness. People will try to grow closer to God during Lent and will give up unhealthy habits. I usually struggle the first two weeks with my Lenten choices, but then it becomes easier. Good luck to all of you who plan on doing something special during lent. I think God must look forward to this time when so many find time for Him.

Candlemas Celebrates Light

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Candlemas is celebrated around the world on February 2.

I learned of Candlemas a few years ago, but didn’t really understand what it represented until I did a little research. It occurs 40 days after Christmas according to Jewish law found in Leviticus. Luke 2:22 tells us that Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to the Lord and for Mary to be purified. Following the law, Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old and 33 days later presented to God in the temple. It is also known as the Feast of Presentation or the Purification of the Virgin Mary. People bring candles to church to be blessed by the priests and in some countries the candles are then placed in the windows of people’s homes. Jesus is the light of the world and the light is believed to protect the home.

Two people received God’s blessing the day Jesus was brought to the temple. Simeon was a devout man of God and had had been told he would see the Messiah before he died. When he saw the baby he knew Jesus was the promised Messiah and held him in his arms. He praised God and he also told Mary that a sword would pierce her soul. The prophet Anna lived in the temple and she too realized this was the Messiah. She gave thanks to God and told the people who the child was.

Like most celebrations food is involved. In France crepes are eaten and in Mexico tamales are enjoyed. Christians in Puerto Rico light bonfires at the end of Candlemas Day. I don’t know if it is celebrated anywhere in America, but it was first celebrated in Jerusalem in 4th century AD and has continued since.

Our world needs the light of hope and love. For Christians Jesus is the light and he gives us hope and strength during these difficult times. I like the idea of placing candles in the window on February 2. Mine are electric but I think that will work. The days are beginning to get shorter and in some countries they consider this day to signify the end of winter. Those of us in Ohio know we have weeks to go before we see spring. It doesn’t matter if the groundhog sees his shadow or not on Candlemas Day.

The spring bulbs have pushed through the soil so I know they are eager for the sun’s warmth. I’m going to accept that February 2 is the first step to spring. I wish you a sunny Candlemas Day and perhaps you’ll light a candle remembering the significance of this day.