Author: Brenda Proulx

Wife, mother and grandmother, educator and someone who thinks about the things I observe. I am the daughter of a writer; my dad's career was in the field of journalism. More significantly, I am God's child, a person believing in Jesus Christ and in His timeless Word. Blogging is new to me but I feel like I've always had a pen in my hand. I jot notes in my planner, mark papers, underline verses, write many letters, and occasionally draft articles for work or church. When I am not holding a pen, I am probably cuddling a mug of coffee.

Music Makes Merry

A couple of Christmases ago, my husband and I found ourselves in a “bah humbug” mood one December weekend. I don’t recall anything that was particularly wrong, but somehow, maybe from loneliness or fatigue, we lacked Christmas joy. That Sunday afternoon I got a call from a long-time friend saying she had just received four tickets to a Michael W. Smith concert that night. She wondered if we would like to go with them. My husband and I conferred; I decided to go to the concert with them and he preferred to stay home to rest.

I had known about the well-advertised show. It was being held at a large university arena nearby. The concert featured Amy Grant as well, so the program promised to be an evening of good oldies among great seasonal pieces. My friends picked me up and we took the short drive together. Our friendship goes back almost three decades but now we don’t see each other regularly. We always have a lot of family news to catch up on.

Vinyl records are popular again. This is my 1980’s original.

Michael W. Smith performs energetic and uplifting shows. He is down to earth and radiates authentic Christian faith. I pretend to know him because he married a friend I knew in college, but of course that’s wishful thinking! With his music colleague Amy Grant on stage too, the duo definitely presented a blast from the past. Most of the audience, including me, relived memorable songs from the 80’s. At intermission when the lights came up, my friends recognized some folks sitting right in front of us. The mother and daughter had known my friends from a time when both of their daughters went through cancer treatment. My friend wept as she reconnected with them. One can only imagine the deep bonds formed through that shared experience.

The concert celebrated the fun and focus of Christmas. The friendship on the stage mirrored the closeness of us listening in the audience. My soul responded as the Christmas songs and message ministered to my sagging spirits. Our friends came inside for a bit as they dropped me off at home. My husband had changed into his bedtime flannels but the four of us hung out together in the kitchen, recapping life. Somehow serenity had descended on us and on our home that night.

I experienced something similar earlier that fall. After a horribly oppressive all-day work meeting, I was scheduled to attend a concert in the evening. Though depleted of energy, I was committed to going with an acquaintance. I didn’t know much about the group performing that night either. I showed up out of obligation. But then “Big Daddy Weave” hit the stage and I sat up! They were large and loud! Eventually I recognized a few songs and could clap and hum along. The lead vocal belted out their story and His (Jesus’) Story with wonderful candor and love. As the evening progressed, my body and mind steadily revived. And in that concert too I ran into a childhood friend who I rarely see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TKAN-nAsu8

Music blesses and renews us. Christmas music is a special genre but all music, and especially music based on Truth, touches our hearts and the world powerfully. The Message Bible paraphrases a passage about music this way:

Sing to God a brand-new song.
He’s made a world of wonders!

⁴Shout your praises to God, everybody!
Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

⁵Round up an orchestra to play for God,
Add on a hundred-voice choir.

⁶Feature trumpets and big trombones,
Fill the air with praises to King God.

⁷Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
With everything living on earth joining in.

⁸Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”
And mountains harmonize the finale— Psalm 98: 1, 4-8

Small Business Saturday

A big box discount warehouse or the hardware store downtown? The well-known coffee powerhouse or a local tea shop and bakery? Amazon or Etsy? I prefer the latter of each and patronize small businesses when I can. Of course, I make purchases at a large department stores and eat at chain restaurants, but when it’s possible and practical, I give local companies my business. I want to support community entrepreneurs in their ventures.

Today is Small Business Saturday. As the holiday shopping season begins, the Small Business Saturday initiative designates the Saturday after Black Friday to encourage and incentivize buying from non-chain retail stores. I participate in and promote this worthy cause.

I appreciate meaningful displays. I noticed this at a fast food chain, but as a franchise, it’s locally or independently owned.

Last year, after my Thanksgiving company went home, I headed out for some time alone. I drove to a quaint shopping district not far from our home. I went to several one-of-a-kind shops. I bought some reasonable items as ‘thank you’ gifts and stocked up on useful stationery and candles. It’s satisfying to buy directly from store owners who are often quite personable.

On my way home, I stopped at my favorite local business: the garden shop down the street. Lush plants of every kind and lavish home displays fill its various atriums. It is also a terrific example of small business success. The owner had a rag to riches life story accomplished through hard work and smart investment sense in the nursery business. Since I visit this garden center often, I have a routine. I enjoy the free coffee and popcorn, meander through the greenhouses and décor rooms, and then check out the sale aisle. I usually pick up a plant or two to exercise my green thumb. I am not sure what I ended up with that small business weekend but, while there, I filled out a raffle card before taking home a few of their beautiful garden calendars for the new year. A few days later I got a call from the garden center. Apparently, my name was drawn in the raffle and I won a $50 gift card! Hey, it pays to shop local.It is wise to be selective with your purchasing power. You can decide where to buy and who will get your money; options abound. You may be aware of a company’s policies or positions that you feel strongly about supporting or not supporting. Such discretion is your prerogative as a paying patron. Ultimately, all of our money comes from God, His blessing in our lives (Psalm 24:1). For that reason, we are held accountable for how, and where, we spend what He’s provided. Consider a few more Scriptures in light of your spending choices: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (Romans 14:12) ^“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” (Proverbs 3:27) “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:23) “ Now the overseer (leader, example) is to be above reproach, . . . not a lover of money.” (1 Timothy 3:2-3)

Deeply Rooted

I began plant propagation experimenting with a date palm. At about 10 years old, I got a pit from a dried date and decided to plant it to try to grow a palm tree. I covered the pit with dirt and set my flowerpot in a sunny window. I watered and waited. After many weeks, actually it turned into months, the pot remained unchanged. I figured my seed was dead so I dug into the pot. To my great delight, the pit had sprouted and was sending up a shoot. I filled the soil back in and eventually witnessed the emergence of a mini palm tree complete with leafy fronds. I guess that success hooked me!

Succulents are easy to root and that’s how I got all these. Mezoo is a favorite tropical.

I have grown quite a few trees since then. From its fruit I have grown a paw paw tree, a Hardy Orange, and an Osage tree. In addition to those three, our yard includes some sassafras trees and a mulberry, as well as Rose of Sharon, barberry and grape holly shrubs that were raised from replanted saplings or cuttings. Some of our evergreens came from the north and from Forest Department saplings given away at the New York State Fair. Many of our woodland perennials grew from transplants from elsewhere or were shared by gardening friends. Once established, a lot of these kinds of plants naturalize again on their own and fill in large areas or they can be passed on to the next gardening friend.

I call this the candy corn vine: it blooms in October. Its real name is Mina Lobata, Spanish
Flag vine, and it’s one of my few seed successes this year.

Rooting plant cuttings yields the most reward for me. It’s so easy to snip a vine or side stem, plop it into water, and watch the roots appear! My husband collected antique glass bottles which now serve as lovely vases for my windowsill cuttings. My green thumb is much fainter however, when it comes to starting from seeds. I buy and plant seeds every year but few seem to make it all the way to the flowerbeds. Some germinate but I’ve discovered that growing to garden size is challenging. I understand why plant nurseries have to charge so much for annuals. I think an elegant glass conservatory would be the perfect place to tend my tiny plants and I discovered an abandoned greenhouse nearby, but somehow I’ve been unable to convince my husband that he should relocate it to our property!

My potting still life. It was a sharing project.

The Bible says a lot about planting. Ancient cultures survived through cultivation. “Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him.” (Colossians 2:7) The Apostle Paul explains that to be strong in faith, you have to grow a good root system. This takes effort and the right growing conditions. Getting to know God by reading the Bible, listening to teaching from Scripture, and being around others who have Christian faith will give you a healthy growth spurt.

I also love how the first Psalm paints a vivid image of a vigorous tree to describe the life of strong faith. https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.1.NIV

Footnote: The cuttings photograph credit goes to my daughter.

A Crooked Mechanic

A crooked mechanic almost duped my neighbor. She took her car in for its annual safety inspection and the car failed due to a burned-out brake light. The mechanic proposed fixing the brake light for three hundred dollars: $100 for the “specialty” bulb and $200 for the labor requiring two technicians. When I mentioned this to my husband, he immediately smelled something fishy. He checked out our neighbor’s brake light and it worked perfectly. They drove back to the auto shop for re-inspection and the light came on so the car passed the safety inspection. The inspector mumbled something about a faulty wire. But this was not about a temperamental wire or bulb. This was a rotten case of taking advantage of an older single woman who was apt to not completely understand her car’s condition but who was very able and likely to pay her bill. Such dishonest business, targeting the vulnerable, repulses our sense of basic decency!

Nothing crooked about this! Just one of the great vehicles we saw at the NRA car show yesterday.

Locally, another criminal story unfolded. A pregnant teacher went missing on the first day of school. She was found dead within a week and her boyfriend of six years was charged with her murder. Only a deep kind of evil draws a man to kill his unborn child and its mother. The young teacher also had floundered in life. She dated her boyfriend for years without a marriage commitment and became pregnant without a husband (remember the 7^th commandment, Exodus 20:14?).

It is easy to view these individuals with an air of disdain and a whiff of superiority. We feel above the corrupt cheater, the heartless killer, and the morally compromised. But the Bible warns us about this misperception: “The heart is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; who can understand it fully and know its secret motives? (Jeremiah 17:9 Amplified Version) Jesus further expanded the scope of sin with these piercing indictments: “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say, if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgment! You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5: 21, 22 and 27)

Let misconduct and the cruelty of this world provoke you, but at the same time, be mindful of your own secret tendency to stray.

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

What is your favorite children’s book? It might be a story from your childhood or a book you’ve enjoyed reading to children, yours or someone else’s.

Children’s literature is a wonderful genre. I remember a few books from my childhood but a college course that we called “kiddie lit” introduced me to a world of great stories and talented authors. Ever since, I have been reading children’s books to my own kids and to students. At school, reading a text to students is referred to as a “read aloud” and all students, no matter their age, seem to love it. I continue to expand my familiarity with children’s literature. I observe what students are reading and browse the library. I try to read several children’s novels each year. Usually the stories are an easy, pleasurable read yet important and deep themes emerge. Children’s literature reflects current thought and trends.

As I meet my new students at the beginning of the year, I like to share the book Whoever You Are by Mem Fox with them. In simple picture book form, Mem Fox portrays how children from all parts of the world are different in looks, language and culture. The story climaxes with the human similarities of all children: smiles, tears, and love. The ending depicts the children as grown-ups, getting along and working together. The quirky illustrations emphasize the message candidly.

In America, we experience a lot of harmony within our diversity. A rainbow of children go to school together every day and are successful in learning and making community. Neighbors across America, with various languages and different faiths, dwell in peace. Workers of multiple nationalities and differing political views get the job done and enjoy each other’s company while doing it. Recently the media has accentuated a few difficult racial and political uprisings. Commentators clash over who hates who more. I believe the news has actually incited hostility by continually replaying the same emotional footage. Yes, there are wounds to heal but the American people generously live out our motto “E Pluribus Unum.”

America’s foundational principles of unity and equality are Biblical. God commanded the citizens of Israel to provide for those outside of their nationality (Leviticus 19:34). Jesus’ ministry often reached out to folks on the fringe of society; the Samaritan woman, for example (John 4:1-42). And the first church was known for its unique ethnic and economic diversity (Galatians 3:28).

If you haven’t read a children’s book lately, head to the bookstore or

library and treat yourself. For an extra bonus, share it with a child. Look out for fall book celebrations too. My area has two good ones: Fall for the Book put on by Fairfax and George Mason University and The National Book Festival sponsored by the Library of Congress. These conferences always include children’s features.

The Solar Eclipse: Brought to You by the Creator God Almighty

¹The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. ²Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. ³They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. ⁴Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. Psalm 19: 1 – 4 (New Living Translation)

Today’s solar eclipse captivates millions of us. I don’t know if you got the protective eyewear or will even get a break outside as it occurs, but this celestial phenomenon made big news!

That’s exactly what Psalm 19, as quoted above, states. The sky speaks to us and it clearly speaks of God. Truly all of nature points to its Creator. The beauty of mountains, flowers, snow, and the big cats as well as the power of oceans, wind, volcanoes, and earthquakes remind us of the Divine. These tell of God without words and through a common language.

But the heavens are a unique impression of God. The sky is something that can always be seen and it can always be seen by everyone. That is not true of the ocean or snow or wild cats. The firmament also has a way of suggesting eternity. Where does the dawn come from and how far do the stars go and why is the sky so vast? We think these thoughts as we gaze heavenward.

So as you join in the eclipse excitement today, consider that God is sending sky watchers His message.

Farmers Markets

Beautiful morning at the farmers market.

Farmers markets are one of my summertime delights. I love to head out on Saturday morning to shop for produce at our nearby farmers market. It’s located in the historic downtown on a lot amid the justice buildings. The vendors are regulars and I try to divvy up my purchases among them. Usually I buy a week’s worth of peaches or other fruits in season, and fresh veggies, always including corn on the cob for a meal. A few crafters, a honey man, an organic meat vendor and a baker also sell their wares but I generally stick to buying the fresh local produce. I wince at the prices but remind myself that I like to support hard-working people.

When my kids were young, I followed a different routine. We went to the Tuesday farmers market, also in the downtown area. We enjoyed mingling with the families and retired folks. We often ran into friends. I let the kids help pick and carry our purchases. At one point, a local church served free lemonade; a treat we looked forward to. The morning usually included another activity such a library visit or a stop at the adjacent playground. I really miss those summers with the kids at home!

Actually, I have a history with farmers markets. My earliest market memory is with my grandmother when I was a little girl. She took me to a downtown market on a bus because she did not drive. The city’s open air market filled a permanent concrete structure. I don’t recall her purchases but afterward she baked many kinds of delicious fruit pies! Bowls of berries were plentiful in her kitchen too.

I have visited farmers markets in quite a few cities. Since vacations tend to occur in summer, farmers markets make a pleasant outing. I have joined family at farmers markets in Hamilton, Ontario; Holland, Michigan; Brooklyn, New York; and in Lynchburg and Blacksburg, Virginia. I took students on a fieldtrip that included a huge historic market in Baltimore and friends took me to a similar market in Philadelphia. Each market reflects its unique region yet they share common set-ups and the same kinds of goods.

Produce stands and markets aren’t about deals and convenience. Open air markets provide fresher produce from small-time, local growers. Grocery stores have their place but buying direct is personal, nutritious and much tastier! I feel very blessed to have the extra means to shop in markets and enjoy better food. I don’t take for granted that we are not in a severe drought or devastated by a blight or infestation. These things have happened before. Instead, the crop fields and orchards are abundant with God’s goodness which He generously provides for me (Psalm 104:14-15). If you also recognize ‘from whence’ the bounty on your table comes, you might practice that graceful habit of giving thanks at meals, just as Jesus did (John 6:11).

POSTSCRIPT – My dad visited last week and he edited my draft. He gave me several basic, but very helpful writing tips: the advantage of being a writer’s daughter! I noticed that he inserted a possessive apostrophe after the word “farmers” which I also felt was correct. But in searching out the usage of “farmers market” the apostrophe now seems to be omitted.

Summer: A Season for Everything

Two summers ago, I witnessed a wide array of life experiences in my neighborhood. Within about a week, there was destruction and expansion, loss and celebration, among the two dozen or so homes on our street.

It began with an eviction of catastrophic proportions at the first home on the block. The entire contents of the house were thrown out onto the driveway and street. Furniture and personal belongings were broken and irretrievable on the pile. Eventually, a bulldozer loaded the ruins into a county garbage truck. I never knew if it was a rental gone bad or a disputed foreclosure.

But then a neighbor around the corner held an open house for their remodeled home. They did a beautiful job of updating the home’s exterior and adding new living areas that probably better suit the needs of their young family. Many cars lined the street throughout the afternoon and it was obvious that it was a happy housewarming.

About this same time we got word that a retired couple at the end of our road lost their three year old granddaughter; a case of sudden infant death syndrome. Although we usually chatted with them in passing, we made an intentional visit to their home. As we sat on their deck, they softly shared memories of a little girl they loved but who had lived far away from them on the west coast. They showed us her picture and thanked us for the card we sent, designed by a special artist.

Life goes on and two houses down from us, a family threw a barbeque and jamboree for a 50^th birthday! We were forewarned that it would be loud but I won’t complain about kids, friends and family gathered outside to run, laugh, eat and sing in commemoration of five decades! I was delighted to watch the lawn lanterns glow and listen to the country music on a warm summer’s night.

Life is happening all around us all of the time. Sometimes we have the opportunity or obligation to join in and other times we just observe. I have written previously about “rejoicing with those who rejoice; mourning with those who mourn” Romans 12:15 (March 31, 2017). The Bible also reminds us that people, our neighbors, experience many life seasons: “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die . . . a time to tear down and a time to build” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2 and 3). Wise King Solomon wrote more on God’s perspective on work, priorities, life and eternity in that passage. Take a look because it is always worth reading the words of the Author of Life.

The puppy next door loves learning her “sit” command!

And who can resist the cuteness and energy of a new puppy? That summer two years ago, the next door neighbors got a new puppy. He has grown up into strong, good-hearted woofer. This summer, he has a new ‘sister’: another adorable black lab puppy, so full of life!

Knowing Egyptians

For most of my adult life, I had little familiarity with Egyptian culture and people. In recent years, however, my ESL teaching has introduced some wonderful Egyptian children into my life. The first student who comes to mind was a 6^th grader named Monique*. It was her first year in the US but she already had a passable understanding of English. In spite of culture shock and the challenges of her preteen class, she pushed through every day, excelling in all her subjects, including the 6^th grade American history curriculum! She maintained a sweet and innocent spirit. At the end of the year, her teachers selected her for the academic achievement award in her grade, out of nearly 100 students!

Solomon with his homemade kite. I had to cover his face for confidentiality reasons.

Another Egyptian family had several children in the school. One of them had significant disabilities yet he was the delight of the staff. He was usually grinning, and drooling, from ear to ear, in spite of his physical handicaps and his inability to speak. I wondered how his family managed his care with limited resources and their language barrier.

Pictured above is Solomon*. He was a very energetic primary student. He was so excited about life and learning and people that he could never stay in his place or remain quiet. Although that effervescent spirit was a challenge in the classroom, his enthusiasm endeared him to me. He made great progress as a language learner and accomplished near grade-level reading by the end of the year. Once, his reading group had a book about making a kite. For a follow-up, I copied the directions and gave the students the kite materials. To my joy and amazement, a few days later Solomon showed me his completed kite, so I took his picture! Kids actually doing something like this on their own is quite rare.

Solomon belonged to a special group of Egyptians called Copts. This term is short for Coptic Christian and they are among the oldest Christian sects in the world. Egyptian Orthodox believers, including Solomon, can often be identified by a small cross tattoo near the wrist.

Today’s Coptic Christians in Egypt are being violently singled out. Since the Arab Spring in 2011, there have been numerous assaults on them. Twenty-one Egyptian Christian young men were executed on a Libyan beach by ISIS in 2015. This April, suicide bombers attacked two Egyptian church services on Palm Sunday, killing 40 attendees. In May, buses headed to a monastery were ambushed by terrorists resulting in 28 more deaths.

Terrorism is not isolated anymore. This spring, England was horrified by a bombing at a concert that took the lives of nearly two dozen, mostly young teens. Since 2001, the US has experienced terrorism at the Boston Marathon, and many shooting sprees including San Bernadino, Fort Hood, and Orlando. All of these are horrific but the Egyptian attacks are particularly appalling in that the Coptic Christians are targeted.

The Bible warns of persecution. The Apostle Paul was beaten and jailed repeatedly throughout his ministry, and eventually he was martyred near Rome. But of his travail he said, “I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) The persecution of Christ-followers has continued through the centuries. God loves His own but in His sovereignty, mistreatment and murder happen. Speaking to the disciples, Jesus warned, “In this world you will have trouble.” Then he added this encouragement, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) My Christian sisters and brothers in Egypt need our prayers.

*Names of the students have been changed.

The Goodness of Singing

This week at work I received an email about songs and language learning from one of my professional organizations. The report noted that singing makes learning a new language easier and students retain more new vocabulary when it is sung, rather than spoken. This did not surprise me. Early childhood education has always been rich in music, poetry and chants because young children love them and through rhythm, rhyme and melody, kids pick up a lot! It would be reasonable that the same benefits could apply to learning a second language.

Actually, I have heard about other positive results from singing. Singing elevates mood. Participating in singing is known to help depression, whether that is singing in a group or just singing on your own. At work, after the classes recite the Pledge of Allegiance, there is a patriotic song. I try to join the singing whenever I can, knowing that it will boost my spirits at the beginning of that day.

There is also evidence that singing is good for dementia patients. Singing together helps dementia patients connect with others and it exercises an important region of the brain. Singing has cardiovascular benefits and it reduces stress, increases immunity, and improves mood and memory. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3767275/) No wonder nursing homes have so many sing-alongs!

The Bible frequently refers to singing, and usually it is in the context of singing praises to God. There are fifty Biblical directives to sing, including Psalm 96: 1-3:

¹Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. ²Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. ³Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

We’re told to sing. We’re told to sing to God. We’re told it’s praise and we’re given ‘the why’: to share Good News and repeat God’s great works.

Modern hymn writer Keith Getty and his wife, singer Kristyn Getty.

This Sunday, June 25, there will be a worldwide opportunity to sing. In churches around the world, a new hymn entitled “For the Cause” will be introduced and sung, in quite a few languages, I might add! Modern hymn writer Keith Getty, best known for “In Christ Alone,” has composed this new hymn and Sunday is the rollout at participating churches. Here is the link to find out more: https:www.globalhymnsing.com.

As God is our Creator, it doesn’t surprise me that He’s given us something that’s really good for us. Singing is a gift. It’s not about the perfect tune or moving lyrics, nor does it depend on the quality of your voice. Singing is an expressive action, mostly with joy but always with emotion. As Elsa sang, “Let it go” and see how good you feel!

Listen to “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, sung by Kristyn Getty.