Category: motivation

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K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine motivation

How Is Your Reality TV Show Going?

Cartoon of a student and a Sunday school volunteer. The student says, "You'll love serving in the fifth grad class. It's kind of like being in a reality TV show."
Published in "K! Kidzmatter Magazine"

There are some days when I think the last couple of weeks have been a twisted reality TV show. People have been sequestered in their homes with whatever they could scrounge at the grocery and instructed to live within the confines of their home with the kids while they attempt to work from home and homeschool their kids. Whew!

It has reminded me of a time or two when a class could get unruly and devolve into an out-of-control reality show atmosphere. Oh, how I long for those days! 

They will be coming soon. Sometime late spring or in the summer, Sunday school classes will be back in session. It may take some time for students and teachers to get their bearings again. In the meantime, hold on for today. If you are feeling you are in a bizarre reality show, see if you can ask the director for a raise or bonus. Just beware of that added twist that those shows like to add just to make things interesting.

Cartoon of a student and a Sunday school volunteer. The student says, "You'll love serving in the fifth grad class. It's kind of like being in a reality TV show."
Published in “K! Kidzmatter Magazine”
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motivation

Watch Out For the Tiny Terrorists

Cartoon of two chickens

When I drew this cartoon, salmonella was in the news. It was the evil microbe of the day. It was a little, unseen bug that caused some big problems. But it was nothing compared to what the world is dealing with today.

Today, we have a menace that has closed schools, businesses, and entire countries. It’s the little things that can cause big disruptions. I am looking forward to a time in the near-future where we will be more concerned about little menaces such as salmonella and E. coli. Until then, let’s take today’s menace seriously and do what we can to prevent it from spreading further. At the same time, don’t be a chicken!

Cartoon of two chickens
Categories
motivation

Is Dignity Overrated?

Cartoon of a boy in an eagle costume. He says to a girl, "I agreed to be the school mascot if they would pay for my dignity insurance."

Both, my high school and the university I attended have birds for mascots; The Blackhawks, and The Ravens. There were times when I thought it would have been neat to be the person behind the mascot. Then again, being a big bird would have been challenging for anyone’s dignity. Sesame Street’s Big Bird probably didn’t help in the dignity area.

Dignity insurance would be a great thing to have. I could have used that a few times in my life. It probably would have come in handy just the other day. However, I’ve noticed dignity can get in the way of doing something worthwhile and fun. Dignity and pride can keep us from valuing ourselves and our fragile egos over others.

Don’t worry too much about your dignity. Focus more on doing something of value for others and being humane and considerate. Dignity is overrated if it keeps you from doing just that.

Cartoon of a boy in an eagle costume. He says to a girl, "I agreed to be the school mascot if they would pay for my dignity insurance."
Categories
K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine motivation

Books and Batteries

Cartoon of a teacher and a boy with an electronic tablet. The boy panics and says, "Help! My Bible's batteries ran down!"
Published in "K!: Kidzmatter Magazine"

The first time a student brought their tablet into the Sunday school classroom was quite a sight. The child claimed it was her Bible. But for some reason, all the kids gathered around her and they weren’t asking to see her Bible. They were interested in what games were on her tablet. It took some time to get the class back into some semblance of organization.

Since the schools are all closed right now, I imagine the tablets and smartphones are getting quite a workout. I’m sure there are some times when a crisis may emerge because a device’s batteries are running on empty. Keep calm and find a charger! It will be all right eventually.

Find some time to recharge your devices as well as yourself this week. Step away from the laptops, tablets, smartphones, and televisions for a few minutes, if not hours. You’ll be glad to get some time to step away from the news and let yourself have a break from it all.

Cartoon of a teacher and a boy with an electronic tablet. The boy panics and says, "Help! My Bible's batteries ran down!"
Published in “K!: Kidzmatter Magazine”
Categories
love motivation

Find Some Ways to Spread Some Love

Cartoon of a girl and boy. The girl has notes with hearts on them. She says, "I'm trying to spread the love. Sticky notes help me do that."

The girl in today’s cartoon may not be practicing social distancing, but it’s okay. Stickie notes may be a way of spreading love without coming into close proximity to someone. Besides, there will be a time in the near future when she will once again get to spread the love using all the stickie notes she wants in any way she wants.

We are going through some challenging times right now. If you are quarantined at home right now, or if you suddenly find yourself with lots of time because you are out of work, find some ways to send encouragement and love to others. We still have electronic means of doing that. Perhaps, we can start posting encouraging words to combat all the doom and gloom that is going on right now.

Find some ways to help others. We are better when we offer help and encouragement rather than succumb to all the bad news. Find some ways to spread some love. It will lift your spirits, and it will remind you of what is good and really important.

Cartoon of a girl and boy. The girl has notes with hearts on them. She says, "I'm trying to spread the love. Sticky notes help me do that."