Follow the Leader

Dear Reader:

Don’t you remember waving your hand wildly when the teacher asked who wanted to be the “leader” that day at recess? Instead of counting sheep as a child to fall asleep, I would think up funny maneuvers to do as the leader in “Follow the Leader ” …so my classmates would all laugh and follow me willingly!

Now as an adult I turn to God as my leader to show me the way home-one of my most precious pieces of jewelry is a compass on a chain that has the inscription on the back…” So that you may find your way home. ”

I remember a line from Archibald Rutledge that has helped explain God’s role as a guide for us through life–” “God does not love us with words; He loves us by giving us everything we need plus all the beauty of this earth that helps guide us back home to Him. The ones who get lost are the people who are blind to the beauty and love around them”

Rutledge continues ” I am absolutely unshaken in my faith that God created us, loves and wants us… not only to be good, but to be happy. The human mind, proud and self-centered, may be inclined to reject this kind of proof of God’s love. But the human heart can hardly do so. And in things spiritual I do not know but that the heart is by far the better guide. ”

So until tomorrow-” When you are going through something hard and wonder where God us… remember the teacher is always quiet during a test.”

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

I gave all the Ya’s a potted rose bush one year as a gift-most of them died the Ya’s confessed to me. Except for Brooke”s-she proudly showed me her ” Survivor Rose” -why the sole success? She stuck it in the ground and forgot about it-letting Mother Nature nurture it- and now look. When it comes to gardening less really is best! Happy Official Birthday today Brookie!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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2 Responses to Follow the Leader

  1. Rachel Edwards says:

    So true…God’s reminders are all around us everyday…a minister who was a very wise man pnce said…”if you are not happy on earth you will not be happy in Heaven”…

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