Sunday Star

One day this week I was running errands. I try to do them all on one day so I don't waste time and gas. I drove through McDonalds to pick up a burger and coke. I know, I know. Not healthy. But fast! And cheap - $1 hamburger and $1 coke can tide me over for several hours. As I gave my order to the faceless voice I noticed that this voice was clear and articulate and, well, happy. So many times it's beyond difficult to understand what the faceless voice is saying and rarely do you ever hear any vestige of happy. Sometimes they talk so fast it sounds like a language I've never heard and certainly can't comprehend. But this voice was pleasant and made me wonder who went with it. When I arrived at the window (the first window because for some reason they can't take your money and give you food at the same window any more - I'm not sure why) the lady taking orders, and money, had the most beautiful smile and you could just see happy in her eyes. I guess that's why I heard it in her voice - it sort of spilled over from that smile. She was a spot of joy in my harried day. I know that working at McDonalds is not my idea of fun and I doubt it's anyone's idea of what they want to do all of their life. But this woman was middle aged (no I don't know what middle aged is but it's less than my age which is 62 but older than my daughter's age, which is 43, or at least that's my definition and don't you wonder what I'll think it is when I'm 80 because I don't believe my children could ever be middle aged!) and working at McDonalds and she was making the very best of where she was and what she was doing. She put on a happy smile, greeted me warmly and wished me a good day. Like she meant it. She's my Sunday Star - and I hope that every time I go to that McDonalds she's the one I get to talk to.

Sunday Star

In my effort to stay focused on the positive, the up-beat, the good instead of the negative stuff going on all around us I'm starting a new kind of post. On Sundays I'm going to highlight something or someone who's making a difference in the world - someone I've come in contact with during the week or something I've seen that's out of the ordinary. I think I'll call it Sunday's Stars. It could be a person, it could be an event, it could be an idea. I'm going to be alert during the week to those things rather than looking for the depressing things that permeate our world. This is my first Sunday Star.

Photo by Flickr

In an e-mail conversation I had this week with a friend who is a middle school teacher I was thrilled to read these words:

"I’m working very hard to help make children’s lives better. Sometimes all they need is someone to tell them they can do something they never thought they could. Sometimes they just need someone to look them in the eye and tell them they are cheating themselves and they are worth more than that. Sometimes they just need to know that somebody (anybody) is proud of them for showing up at school and giving full effort no matter what goes on at home. I try never to miss an opportunity to do that. "

This is a teacher I met her very first year out of college when she was assigned the classroom next to my office. That year she was teaching sex ed in her health classes and would frequently come running to my office to say, "Quick, what is....?" I'll spare you the details but bear in mind that she was young, single, and shall we say inexperienced in some matters. Let your imagination be your guide. That was about 20 years ago and she's now working in a public middle school administering a program focused on giving economically deprived students a shot at the success they never dreamed they might have.

I'm so glad to be reminded that in our schools, both public and private, there are men and women who truly care. People who love our children and want them to be the best they can be. This young woman is making a difference in her classroom, in her school, and ultimately in our world.

I hope you will join me in looking for Stars to show us on Sundays - I don't want to miss a one of them.