I am constantly amazed by the maturity and direction some young people have. She has a ten year plan, and being in the military is phase one. (Heck, she probably has a 50 year plan too; she just hasn't shared it with the rest of us yet.)
She believes this is all part of God's calling on her life; she is simply doing His will.
Again, I am in awe, as to how some people KNOW what God's will is. I'm well into the second act of my life, and I still don't have a clue.
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I have another friend, Janice, who has had some pretty incredible experiences. One of them happened when she was 15 years old. You can read the whole story here.
Twenty five years ago, there was a plane crash in Newfoundland and all 256 military personnel (101st Airborne Division and crew members) on board died. The paratroopers had served on a peacekeeping mission and were on their way home when the plane went down.
"Janice was only 15 when she heard the tragic news of the crash. The Canadian teenager from Oakville, Ontario, wanted to reach out to the Families of the fallen Fort Campbell Soldiers.
“I wrote a letter to our big Toronto Star newspaper and said I would like to donate my babysitting money … to [buy trees] to plant as a living memorial to these Soldiers who died in our country,” she said. “I thought ‘I’m 15 years old, what can I do?’ But it was something.”
Word of the memorial idea and Janice’s $20 donation to the cause spread globally. World leaders and celebrities commended the teen’s efforts with phone calls, telegrams, letters and $1,700 in donations."
If you clicked the link, you'll know the rest of the story... the 256 trees were planted, and 25 years later, (last summer) Janice and her family stopped in to see the Sugar Maple Grove.
I LOVE THIS STORY.
I love how she was 15 and was moved to do something.
I love how the adults in her life encouraged her to follow through with the idea.
I love how this is an international partnership with both Canada and the US working together to make this happen.
I love how Janice brought a plaque that says: Donated by the People of Canada to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in memory of the 248 courageous Soldiers who died in Gander, Newfoundland, December 12, 1985. Each tree stands as a living memorial. The forest testifies to their united commitment to global peacekeeping. Blessed are the peacemakers. St. Matthew 5, verse 9.
I love how this makes it feel like God is there, in that place, blessing the peacemakers.
AND I TOTALLY LOVE THAT THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME BASE THAT MY FRIEND'S DAUGHTER IS AT.
Seriously? What are the chances?
It just seems like divine meddling to me. I know, I know. It doesn't really mean anything... it could just be a big ol' coincidence. But deep inside, it just feels like a message from God, saying, "I am way over here, looking after Soph. Don't worry. I got this. I was here with Janice when the trees were dedicated. I was here when she came back to show her kids. And I'm still here, keeping an eye on the people we love."
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Time for another one of those THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTIONS:
If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
First of all, I don't care for the tone of this question. It's assuming I would HAVE to teach something against my will. Which is so not true. I love teaching. In fact, right up until grade 12, I was preparing to go to university to become a teacher.
In the end, I took a detour into business, and never looked back. But when opportunities present themselves, I take advantage of them; I love telling people what to do. When I worked at Billies, I 'taught' the elementary school kids when they came to for a field trip. Twenty kids at a time, I'd make a craft with them. I'd like to think I was pretty good at it.
So. I'm going to reword the question to: If I had the great opportunity to teach something, what would I teach?
I have a list prepared:
1. How to start a blog.
2. How to get an account on pinterest, and what to pin.
3. How to cut, copy and paste on your computer. And what REPLY ALL means when emailing.
4. How to make an online photobook.
5. How to organize your digital photos.
6. How to convince your creative friends to teach their crafts at your dining room table.
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Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Quiet, laid back Saturday; didn't DO anything but make a wall full of color coded lists. (Will post pic tomorrow.)
2. A roof that doesn't leak.
3. Coil bound, lined journals.
Shalom,
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