December 1, 2018

Message of the Month

A Soldier’s Silent Night

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a solider, once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder.

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in a poncho, on the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice,
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.

My life is my God, my country, my corps”.
The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep.
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
and we both shivered from the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure whispered,
“Carry on Santa. It’s Christmas day, all is secure”.
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.

Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.

Defense Against Pickpockets

There are many tricks pickpockets use to get access to your purse or wallet. At the beach or library, they are on the lookout for backpacks and belongings lying around. Sometimes they have accomplices who distract you, while the pickpocket gets away with your wallet.

Here are some ways you can thwart the pickpocket’s efforts:

• Don’t assume that a well-dressed person, or a woman with a baby, or a tourist with a hat and camera cannot be a pickpocket. Pickpockets blend in with the crowd and do not look like criminals.

• Don’t carry your wallet in the back pocket. If possible, keep your wallet in a money belt under your clothes or in your front pocket.

• Carry your purse under your arm.

• Work on looking self-confident. Pickpockets tend to prey on vulnerable targets.

• Keep a list of all your cards handy so that if you lose your wallet or purse, you can cancel or replace your cards easily.

Kids Corner

The Teacher-Student Relationship

A teacher doesn’t hand truth to the student. He or she leads the student to the truth, but the job of figuring out the truth is actually the students. The teacher’s job is to study students individually and guide each student in a specific manner so that the student becomes ready to learn and go to the next level. Therefore, the teacher needs to be open-minded and sensitive, which encourages the student to be the same way.