The Victoria Advocate, A Different Perspective
The 1000-piece bird puzzle I optimistically opened two days ago is kicking our butts. We’ve done the edges and a few of the birds, but I’m stalled out on the yellow birds. Five…yes, FIVE yellow birds and the pieces all look similar.
The ruby-throated hummingbird, however, reminded me of an incident that happened when I was in grade school. I attended Blanche Moore Elementary in Corpus Christi, Texas. One day, the janitor, Mr. Lopez, came into our classroom with his hands cupped. Once he found the teacher and showed her, she allowed him to walk around the room and show all of us what he held. Somehow, he had captured a ruby-throated hummingbird. I could see the tiny bird’s pulse beating frantically, and sure enough, it had a ruby-colored throat that twinkled like a jewel. His discovery provided quite the excitement for small children on an otherwise too long and too quiet afternoon.
Mr. Lopez would also stand guard at the big plastic waste bins in the cafeteria. The students were supposed to empty their trays and place them on the counter, except if Mr. Lopez didn’t think someone had eaten enough, he’d cross his arms and frown, which meant that the student needed to go back and eat more food. From an adult perspective, he probably hated the waste he observed daily. I learned how to skirt around him and empty my plate quickly—as there was always plenty of extra left on my plate. If only that were still the problem!
A whole new world opened up in junior high. The cafeteria had options. No longer did we have a single choice on a tray. Most of the time, my lunch was a corn dog, a piece of lemon meringue pie, and a fudgesicle. Occasionally, I bought a small salad—which I’m sure was a packaged mix of iceberg lettuce, a few bits of carrots, and slivers of red cabbage. My sole contribution to a healthy lifestyle amid much tastier choices. I am very thankful for a mama who paid attention on the home front and stayed on me about establishing better nutritional habits.
And while I didn’t appreciate it at the time, much of Mom’s teaching laid the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle. On most days, I’ve taken it to a whole new level with lots of fresh veggies and soups packed with plenty of nutrients. Mom giggles and says our roles have reversed—now I’m the one who encourages her to try vegetables she doesn’t want to eat.
Speaking of things I don’t like to do, I’m still prepping for my next book launch. Sandwiched between the fun of people reading my book are several tasks I dislike. My learning curve with social media graphics has improved. Thrilled for Canva, a website that makes it easier—with practice. All that to say, parts of the launch are smoother than six months ago, however, the marketing aspect has never been my favorite part. While this is true for most writers, I suspect most small business owners agree with me.
Every spring, I remember when Jesus walked the earth, God gave Him a task He didn’t want to do. In His humanity, He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39, NAS) But God had a greater plan. So Jesus did what He didn’t want to do—He suffered the pain, the shame, and the unjustness of the crucifixion for you and for me. It’s the best news ever because His death wasn’t the end of the story.
Jesus accomplished for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. His sacrifice made a way for us to have peace with God.