Thy Little Hands

"I don't know how." would always be the first sentence I often hear from my students as we embark on different projects. From very simple things such as drawing a line or for far more difficult things such as putting different materials together, they are motivated in different ways. 

When we discussed about garden, the children were able to put together their knowledge of lines and perspective on paper. Later on, I introduced plasticine or clay dough and we started to roll them into small balls, long snakes and thin strands of spaghetti. The process was fun because the children were learning to make a flower by playing with the dough. Later, they were allowed to put all the balls and lines together, neatly arranging them in another sheet of plastic to create a flower that they initially drew. 

The end process was beautiful but the most beautiful words ever were when they said, "This is easy. Can we make another one?" Mission accomplished!

Abandoned

When I visited a small island in Nonthaburi where I live, I noticed a house that was abandoned. I took the opportunity to get closer though there was a fence and took a shot of what was inside. The whole place was a mess, left by time, as no caretaker had given the place its needed maintenance.

It was a great house, a typical Thai house seen in most provinces. The greatness of the structure was eaten up by time and neglect. It was a pity to simply leave the house to rot.

Some people are born with nothing but their determination, faith or sheer courage. These people often succeed in life because they have the will. Some people are born with material wealth and grandeur yet some, because of their desire to live in excess, fails to continue their good faith. Some people are born with intelligence and beauty. However, there had been issues of negligence and abuse whatsoever, thus the fall. 

When I see that the product of my teaching brings good vibes to my career, I continue to strive for excellence. When you see people appreciate your talent, acknowledge their compliments. When we receive grace from God, share them and give thanks. We do not want to be great today and gone tomorrow. We do not want to be wise today and senile the next. We want to be better, if not the best. 

Our abandonment of what's good offer regrets. Our abandonment of what's given brings forth loss. Treasure what you have: your health, your family, your career, your friends and your faith. If we ever wander, always remember to go back. 

Pondering Each Moment

Using the overhead projector and some transparent flowers and beads, a child went to place her cut out on top and arranged them on the overhead to project a scene worth a snapshot. The cut out looks like a person or a small 'alien' thing wandering around and showered with falling flowers.


Small moments like these are given big emphasis in school as narrations often spring out from such creation. Children can tell us about the magic of flowers or the loneliness of a child. It can also say something about a discovery, an exploration or a joyful realization. 


Sometimes when I am just sitting down on my couch and doing nothing, it brings a sense of awakening that something is amiss. When I ride a boat to travel from one point to the next, the quietness of the water and the splashes give me inner peace. Or when I pick my planting gear to clean up or repot a mature plant, I am pleasantly surprise in many ways. 


Each moment bring a sense of renewal as long as we stop and ponder the things that surround us. Each moment brings out narrations worthy of blogging or sharing to others. What I learn maybe nothing for others but it is still a process of my growing, of being me.