by mikea44646 on February 12, 2010
I was talking with an acquaintance tonight following a Cub scout meeting. It was just casual conversation during which I used the expressing “Life on Life’s terms”. He quickly expressed “Life on Life’s terms? Making me think that he didn’t recognize the FFS Jargon. But he went right on with “Boy, Life can sure be hard and more then I want to deal with at times!” So I asked “What do you do then?
He said – “ I do what is in front of me, focus on what makes the most sense, try and do a good deed or two for others which helps my outlook, I don’t say anything mean and it all works out – not the way I might have planned it – but it all works out.”
This guy has nothing to do with The Family Foundation School, to my knowledge, he has nothing to do with a 12-step self help program, yet his response embodies the practical ideas and copping skills we teach our students as part of the Character Education program. An affirmation that the principles we teach using the 12 steps are fundamental and applicable in all of our affairs.
by mikea44646 on February 1, 2010
As a Christmas gift in 2008, my family received the gift of a napkin holder with a stack of cards (business card size) each with a quote or saying appropriate to be a blessing over the meal. This has been a great gift. It changed the mechanical passive nature of saying the blessing to an active one with desired participation. As an unexpected side effect, it gave the kids something positive to compete over (who gets to read the card). Tonight it was my turn to read the card.
I asked my one son to grab one randomly from the middle of the deck. Of course my daughter had to be contrary. She complained, adamantly saying that we should read the next card sequentially. She stated that for various reasons and preferences that it was the right way to do it. I read a random card anyway and we all had a laugh because here is what it said:
“Give us, O Lord, thankful hearts, which never forget Your goodness to us. Give us, O Lord, grateful hearts, which do not waste time complaining.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Coincidence? In my many years at The Family Foundation School, I have come to believe that moments like this happen way too often to be coincidence. I just need to be open and tuned into the frequency of my Spiritual life.
