If you have read my writing for very long, you know I never cease to be amused by human nature.  I say often that people are the funniest animal God created.  Have you ever wonder why He made man last?  Is it possible that he created all the other animals and they behaved so well that He had nothing to laugh at, so He made man?  I've never thought of that before, but it is a possibility. 

We often get into situations that are not one bit humorous--until we look back at them as if we were watching a movie.  Then we can see the humor in the situation. 

For several years I directed Secret Pals at my home church.  It was a program of women encouraging other women while remaining anonymous until the end of the year when we revealed our secret pals and drew names again.  It was a tremendous blessing and a lot of fun.  One year my secret pal was the only one to remember my birthday.  My mother, husband, both sisters, and children all forgot.  Talk about feeling wanted.

I was bestowed the directorship because I had a good suggestion on improving the program--be careful about opening your mouth.  The group liked my suggestion so much they voted me the new director.    My suggestion was that each woman complete a postcard with her secret pal's birthday or anniversary and then address it to herself.  Then at the beginning of the month, I'd mail the postcards to everyone whose secret pal had a birthday or anniversary that month.   Each month I mailed from five to ten reminder cards.  It was simple, quick, and a great way to keep track of the dates.

Because I mailed these each month, I knew who had a birthday or anniversary and whose secret pal had a birthday or anniversary.  On Sunday morning the week after Christmas Jessica (Not real name) walked up to me with anger absolutely oozing from every pour in her face.  She yelled, "I want to talk to you."  That wasn't question or a request.  It was a demand.  So I stopped and listened as she spit out the words, "My birthday was three days ago and I didn't get anything from my secret pal." 

"Well, Jessica" I said. "Maybe she is out of town for Christmas or something."

"Then she should have thought of that before she left town."

"Maybe she is busy with Christmas.  Did you receive something for Christmas from her?"

"Yes, but nothing for my birthday."

Then I remembered mailing a card to Jessica for her secret pal.  "Your secret pal has a birthday this week also.  Did you take care of her?"

"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.  I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY  MY SECRET PAL A BIRTHDAY GIFT SO SOON AFTER CHRISTMAS."  She yelled loud enough to draw attention from the crowd.

"Well maybe your secret pal is in the same shape.  Maybe she is low on cash also."

At that point she pivoted on one foot and her short, but well endowed, body thundered out of the church much like tyrannosaurus rex.  Apparently my answer was not appropriate.  I guess I was expected to immediately go to her secret pal and severely reprimand her for her careless and callous behavior.  At the same time I was supposed to take pity on Jessica because she didn't have the money to do something for her secret pal.

Isn't it strange how we can see a particular situation as a fault in others and expect others to see it as a dilemma for us?  I have never forgotten Jessica's temper tantrum and lack of compassion for another woman who was very likely in the same situation as herself.  We have so much to learn as we try to walk with God.  Thankfully he is more patient than we are.

When I read a book, I usually become one of the characters and live the story.  I had a hard time doing that with Spiralling Out of Control  by Michele Dennis Evans.  It is the story of two teens with few parental restrictions on their lives.  Now the story is a good one and well written.  Please don't let this stop you from reading it.  I have placed a very positive review on amazon.com and under Book Reviews on this website.

I have several concerns with the book.  Number

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  I don't have a child with Down Syndrome, but I have had the privilege of interacting with several students with DS.  They hold a special place in my heart.  Individuals with Down Syndrome have a full range of emotions like everyone else.  In my experience with students with DS, a show of friendship and love is readily accepted.  It takes very little to make them happy.  It seems a smile is always hidden on their face and ready to pop out like a flower in springtime. 

Individuals with Down Syndrome have very specific medical needs.  They suffer from low muscle tone and poor digestion.  About 50% suffer from congenital heart defect, as well as  hearing and vision problem.  Most have a mild to moderate learning delay. 

Children with DS can learn.  Their learning style is different and it takes longer for them to learn something.  Life skills are not going to be learned by observation.  They must be taught specifically.  When I was Director of Special Education, the Life Skills class at the high school sold baked potatoes every Thursday to earn money for their field trips.  The teacher broke down the skills into manageable learning increments.  In the beginning, they learned to wash the potatoes.  By the end of the year, they could wash and cook the potatoes.  They prepared small condiment cups with cheese, green onion, butter, and other options offered.  They could also read and fill the orders.  By the end of the second year, they could deliver the orders and collect the money independently.  One day one of the students walked into my office, put the take-out container on my desk and said, "Give me $6.00."  Which I gladly did. 

These students learned to wash and dry dishes--no dishwasher.  They cooked something almost daily.  They also went out to eat on grocery shopping day.  The teacher of this class was a genius. She would decide the week before where they were going to eat.  Then she would obtain a menu from the restaurant.  The students would decide what they wanted and practice all week ordering it from the cashier, paying for it, and receiving the change.  If they refused to order, they didn't eat.  Some had speech problems and the teacher would interpret if necessary, but the student had to attempt ordering.

Individuals with DS can learn to be independent.  It just takes someone with the time and patience to teach them.  Please visit http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/Myths-Truths/ to learn more about Down Syndrome.