Mary’s Minute
“Service is the rent we pay for being.”
~ Marian Wright Edelman
This week I had the pleasure of reading to a first grade
class. I chose the book, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, the story
of a woman who had three goals in life: to travel the world, to live by the
sea, and to make the world more beautiful.
As my own children were growing up I always talked to them about our
obligation to make the world a better place.
Miss Rumphius understood that obligation. Whether we call it making the world more
beautiful, making the world a better place, making our mark, or making a
difference, I believe like Marian Wright Edelman that serving others is part of
our duty in life.
We all have the capacity to make the world better. The fictional character Miss Rumphius planted
lupine seeds to cover fields and hillsides with blue, purple, and rose-colored
flowers. Some people make their mark in
big ways and are rewarded with Nobel prizes for their new discoveries and
extraordinary acts. But making a
difference doesn’t need to make a big splash.
It can be a tiny ripple with lasting effects.
Teachers make their mark by giving children skills and confidence
to live productive lives. Cafeteria
workers nourish our students’ bodies and build their self-esteem with their
cheerful dispositions. Bus drivers get
our students to school safely and are the first and last smile from school each
day. Custodians create a clean and nurturing
environment. Working with pride and
kindness is a way to make the world a better place!
The
first grade class I read to wrote a song about me, and one of the students drew
an awesome picture of my dog, Doc. We can all make the world more beautiful – a
better place, and this week a group of first graders’ kindness made its mark on
me.
Have a great week!
Mary
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