Giving thanks, 10,000 reasons

     

      "Bless the Lord, O my soul, Oh my soul. Worship His holy name. Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I'll worship your holy name. You're rich in love and you're slow to anger, you're name is great and your heart is kind. For all your goodness I will keep on singing, Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find."  

— Matt Redman    

     

     Sixteen family members and friends gathered around my thanksgiving table last weekend. 

     

     The turkey, ham and complimentary dishes were ready and awaiting us, as we all assembled in the family room to raise our voices in a YouTube medley of thanksgiving hymns. 

     

     Dave, my eldest son, (taking his Dad's usual place), led us in a prayer of thanks and a blessing on our food.

     The combined efforts of the various family members, made our laden table a blessing to behold.  

     

     Earlier, as guests arrived, each were asked to take a paper leaf from our thanksgiving tree and write on it one thing they were thankful for. 

Oldest daughter Karen (left) next-door neighbour Barbara and Beulah.

     

     Pausing, after our main courses, we shared the scripture verse of thanks that was already on our leaf, and our own special blessing we had written. 

     

     After recounting some of God's blessings, singing the above beautiful refrain of Matt Redman's, it seemed very meaningful to us. 

     

     Colossians 3: 15-16 exhorts us to "... let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... and be thankful,... as you admonish one another with all wisdom... and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."  

     We did just that!  

     

Beulah's older sister Merle (left), her son Richard, Tyler and Sarah Letourneau (son-in-law and daughter of Dave Eagles).

     

Beulah's next-door neighbour Barbara (left) and grandson Brayden (right).

     When it was my turn to share, I chose to offer us a moment of reflection, as I read from Hebrews 12:1-3. 

     



     
    
     
     "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... Consider him... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  

     

From left: Carolyn Eagles, her mother Marian Owens, Derek and Marjorie Harvey, Karen Osborne and Merle Robertson.

     Thanksgiving weekend is the time our family remembers the last one we had with Nels — now eight years since his passing. 

     For a few quiet and solemn moments, our memories took us back over the past years and months, as we mentioned the passing of so many of our family and friends. We felt this verse reminded us that they were "heroes of the faith" and inspiring examples for us, as we continue with perseverance 
"our race marked out for us... so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."  

     

     To honour Nels' memory, I shared a story entitled, Next Time We Meet. It was a treatise written by grandson, Nathan, as an English assignment in his Grade 10 year, shortly after his Grandpa Nels' passing.  

     Here are a few of his thoughts.  

     

     "We really don't realize how accustomed we get to having people around, until all of a sudden they're gone, and our eyes are opened to all the wonderful things they've done for their family." 

     "When my grandpa passed away, I never would have thought that one person could have so much love and care inside of them."... at that moment, all the memories I had of him, rushed through my mind... eight years old and planting flowers with him in the backyard — he'd dig the hole and I'd put the flower in and pat the dirt in around it... He would be the only one that would take your cup at the dinner table and hide it, seeing if you would notice... stories were told of how he made such a lasting impression on people when he met them — how people could see God in his eyes... I found all these things to be true... grandpa loved everyone he was around so much." 

     "He's gone and it's hard to accept, but he still lives on through me and my actions... All I want is that other people can see his love and faith when they look at me. I love you, grandpa, and I can't wait 'till the next time we see each other." 

     

     These thoughts remind us of the importance of how we live our lives daily, before others, and our influence, especially on the younger generation following us.  
     Nathan, those desired characteristics are becoming increasingly obvious in your life. Grandpa would be so proud of the young man you have become!

— beulah

Teaching, a work of heart

Sarah Letourneau (left), Beulah Eagles, Karen Osborne and Merle Robertson.

     "Teachers are the torchbearers of humanity, showing the way forward to the leaders and innovators of tomorrow."   

     

     "School days, school days, dear old golden rule days. 

'Readin and Writin' and 'Rithmetic,

Taught to the tune of a hickory stick."

"You were my queen in calico, 

I was your bashful, barefoot beau. 

You wrote on my slate, 'I love you Joe,'

When we were a couple of kids." 

     
     Reminiscent of our school days in a bygone era, my sister Merle and I shared some nostalgic moments as we sang this little ditty. 

     Recently, we presented a program we called School Daze at a weekly, community drop-in for seniors. 

     We recalled stories of how we had to walk several miles together, enduring all kinds of weather, to arrive at our one-room, country school. Just one teacher back then, teaching eight grades. 

     

     At the beginning of my own teaching career I found myself in a very similar rural setting. 

     As my sister Merle questioned me of those early days teaching, I re-told my experiences in those early classrooms. 

     It was extremely challenging first year: one classroom, 38 pupils scattered amongst eight grades; some pupils were taller than me and nearly as old; outdoor bathroom facilities, (we called them biffys); and the challenge of keeping a pot-bellied stove stoked, for warmth. 

     

     Thankfully, as time went on, the modest country schools became a thing of the past, as regional schools were built with children bussed from various districts. 

     During our presentation, we were delighted to be able to include two visiting teachers as a part of our program. 

          None other than my daughter Karen — who recently retired from a long career with Kelowna Christian School — and my granddaughter Sarah, who is a beginning her teaching career with the public schools in Kelowna. 

     Choosing teaching as a profession, seems to run in our family.  

     I am proud of Sarah, carrying on this family tradition. It was a likely choice, having followed in her mother's and both her grandmother's career footsteps. 

     

     Sarah briefly shared with our group of elders, that her initial plan was to find work in the field of sports therapy, after receiving her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree. 

     Yet, it seemed God had other plans for Sarah. 

     The satisfaction and joy Sarah experienced from her involvement in educational activities, such as: teaching Sunday School, directing youth at summer camps and her varied sporting interest, redirected Sarah's thoughts about her career. And so, she found herself pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree. 
     
     After last year's busy schedule as a substitute teacher in Kamloops, I've no doubt Sarah will soon be a much sought-after teacher-on-call within our Kelowna schools. 

     I'm proud to pass the torch on to Sarah, who has already shown herself to be a teacher with heart — one whose creativity, organizational skills and passion, will make a difference in our world. 

     Children learn what they live, so looking back I am not surprised that both my daughter Karen, (and later her own daughter Krista) became a part of our family's "teacher gene pool." 

     The life of a teacher is a busy one, full of endless lists of important details. 

     As a young woman starting out in the world, Karen helped out in the classroom of her teacher/mom's household. The initial experience made the idea of choosing teaching for a career, unattractive to Karen. 

     
     But once she began volunteering to work with children, it took no time at all for the teacher bug to bite her. Karen pursued her education, receiving her teaching qualifications to begin a life-long career.

          Here are a few excerpts from Karen's talk, she shared with the group of seniors.

     "It's been said that, 'teaching is a work of heart' and as a just-retired teacher of 30 years, I can certainly attest to this fact. I have no doubt that God had me pegged for this profession from the very beginning.

     He used my early experiences with children, the mentorship of my teacher-mom, and even some of my personal struggles to form in me a heart for learning that would, over the years, inspire and give impetus to my teaching. 

     Being a part of the Kelowna Christian School community was a wonderful, wonderful gift that enlarged my heart over the past 28 years. I thank God for the privilege I had of being able to study and memorize God's Word with students in the classroom; for vibrant chapels as we worshipped together; for prayer times with students, colleagues and parents; for our school motto, "God First, Other Second, Me Third;" and for the variety of hands-on mission projects each grade was involved in; for the challenge and joy of integrating life, learning and faith on into the 21st century.
     


     Lastly, Karen challenged us seniors to regularly pray for teachers within our communities — that they will seek God's wisdom in their many responsibilities and decisions; that they would have the inspiration to teach with "heart" and foster compassionate classrooms, where all students are respected and helped to work towards their potential. 

     Karen reminded us that we are all teachers in our relationships as parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, friends — no matter what our age or stage, we all have gifts we can share as we impact others by the positive, helpful way in which we live. 

     

     Then, our lives will truly be a work of heart. Therefore, Karen, welcome to a new phase of your life! 

     No longer will you associate numbers with grades, bells with classes and a marker pen with a whiteboard. We know you will never cease to impart your wisdom and important lessons of life to those children around you. Your grandkids will now the focus of all your love and attention.
    

"To teach, is to touch a life forever."

This beautiful, handmade quilt, lovingly created by Mrs. O's class, together with Mrs. Melody Campbell, (parent and former student) was presented to Karen on her final day of teaching.

      

     The words the children chose to write on the quilt, describing their teacher... "encouraging, kind, patient, generous, welcoming, cheerful," are golden strands we all can weave into the fabric of our lives.   

Life is a work of heart.
  










— beulah