Why all the Smiling Faces?
We finally got some much-needed rain last night; however, not nearly so much as we need in the South. Today is a bright, sunny day, one that lifts the spirits and is making everyone smile a bit wider. Or, is the bigger smile for a different reason I wonder. It seems that the children got out of school for their long-awaited summer vacation last Friday, so they all seem more chipper. But the real smiles are found on the teachers, assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc. I know it can't be because they don't have to face rooms full of children for two months, could it? And, then there are several I know who are retiring this year after 20 or more years spent with the children in a classroom. Even though they have one more day to work (without students), that fact is not putting a damper on today's joy, I can tell you that! I wonder how many will miss their work, how many will continue being thrilled over their retirement decisions, or how many will decide to return to work. Speaking from experience, I first missed the work but more than anything else, I missed my friends. My advice is to work hard to maintain your friendships and you will not regret your decision. Plan a monthly outing with your friends, make new ones, get involved in other projects; just stay busy. That's what I am doing, staying busy, too busy actually. I, too, miss some of my friends who haven't retired and who are just too busy to make time for me. It's a practice that both parties must work toward, to keep a friendship alive. After moving from place to place, I have lost contact with many of my former friends, mainly because I didn't work at it the way I should have. My mother always told me, "to have a friend, you must be a friend". I believe that to this day. Sometimes I have worked hard at this and other times I have been lax. Everyone needs friends and I regret that I haven't done my part to keep the friendship burning between some of my former friends and me. I really am going to try to spark the embers and revive those wonderful memories. It's never too late to make a friend or to keep a friend. Try it. You will someday be glad you did. When your children are grown and gone, who will be there with you, to encourage you, to provide that much-needed friendly togetherness? I don't know about you, but I need and love friendship. As the Bible says, love is the greatest and we need to love one another.
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