This morning, I noticed the three bell pepper plants Lisa is growing in a start up planter in the bathroom standing somewhat side by side. They are there as the weather is good, they have good sunlight, moisture and under our noses to get the attention they require to develop into their full potential and our ultimate enjoyment. There is a yellow, a red and an orange pepper plant growing, oh, say about 5″ high now. They sprouted up amazingly quick and provided a great deal of initial excitement with them gaining about the same height and sprouting new leaves and signs of further growth daily. This continued over some period of time. Then one day, a week or so ago, I heard Lisa from the bathroom in a rather desperate voice say ”Oh no! My pepper plants are falling over!” for which she found props and shored them up right away. What I noticed today is that the two that got the full prop and were attached to their supporter are now about 1/2 inch taller than the one that did not attach fully. I quickly reached over and wrapped it around its support and mused at the situation. How much like these peppers are our kids today? They start out the same, with the same vim and vigor for life, growth and potential. Some get the full support they require. Some start out supported and then detach. Some get totally knocked down in life and still try to put their little heads up to be in spite of their circumstances. Some might not get the same nutrition, help, encouragement and support that another gets and thus starts the inequity of children’s lives. Some may even get “squished” entirely.
We need more people to become the support that these kids have not received. Can you be the one today to help get a child get back on track and attach them to a shoulder to lean on (yours or another), an ear to hear, a voice in their ear saying “you can do it” or “don’t do it” at the right time?
I don’t know if that pepper plant will ‘catch up’ with the others. It may forever remain just a bit behind the others. But what would have happened if I had not come along and propped it up at all? It would have possibly withered or failed completely, leaving the other two to supply all that the world requires of it, short one pepper plant that could have been.
Look around today for your opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child. Become a mentor. Spend a bit more time with your own kids or grand kids, or the neighbor’s that might not have all the opportunities that yours do. They need you to be the one to help hook them up to a support until they can stand strong on their own. The kids of our world need us, some of our time, attention and encouragement. Be the ’stand between’ to help them become… They ARE our future!
To Our Kids’ Success!
Tracy
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