Yes, I know it
is a bit early to be speaking of snow and snowflakes. Yet, there are some parts
of the country where I’ve noticed snow was in the forecast and after all, it is
the middle of November. Yesterday on the news, snow appeared in the forecast
for Virginia. I moved from Wisconsin because the cold and the snow were getting
to be too much. Bummer!
Back to snow and
snowflakes . . .
I had always
heard that there are no two snowflakes alike. Not sure how one would know that,
but that is what I was told way back when. Did someone actually look at all the
various possibilities? Did someone crawl around out there in the snow (and
we’re talking about countries of snow, miles and mountains of snow) with a
magnifying glass in search of duplicate snowflakes? I kinda think not so much.
But it is an interesting concept . . . the uniqueness of a snowflake and that
not one has a twin.
I have two
daughters, Hannah and Emily, who are four years apart. Same parents, Joe and
Kim, though neither look particularly like me (Thank, God!), though each share
some of my personality (God, help them, please!). Same family, similar traits,
but different and unique in their own way. I coached a set of identical twins,
Mark and Matt. One was a shooting guard and the other was a point guard.
Different temperaments, different personalities and again, same family, similar
traits, but different and unique in their own way.
Much like the
kids in your family . . . or classroom . . . or team.
When I coached,
I had to select a team. The kids would try out and depending upon how they fit,
what their talents were, and how each individual could contribute to the whole,
they made the team and were handed a uniform and told, “Go play!” Okay, not
that simple, but you get the idea.
In the classroom
and sometimes in your own family or team, you can’t be so choosy. You get who
you get. No real control. Oh, I suppose you could always kick someone out of
the class. But most of the time, those kids are yours for a period of time-
sometimes long and sometimes short. They are yours.
Ever try to
catch a snowflake on your tongue? Ever try to catch a snowflake on your finger
or hand? It lasts for only a second or two before it melts into a drop of
water. Fragile, a snowflake is. One second- beautiful, shiny, soft and
sparkling. Another second, a drop of water like any other drop of water. The
uniqueness turned into similarity and sameness.
Snowflakes and
kids. Teams and classrooms. Similarities and differences. All rather unique
with some sameness mixed in.
I think kids . .
. and we . . . are like snowflakes. Unique and fragile. Not any two of us
alike, not even twins. Each child, each of us, comes with talents- some with
more, some with less- to put forth and try to do some good. Each child, each of
us, comes with similarities and differences that make us unique. Each child,
each of us comes with gifts to give as best we can give them. Sometimes, it is
up to each of us to discover what gifts and talents the child, each of us,
have.
And like the
snowflake that is so fragile, unless the child . . . unless we . . . are
handled with care, we dissolve and lose that uniqueness, that gift and talent
they . . . and we . . . have to give and share. So my question to you this day,
each day, is how will you help the child, how will you help each other,
discover that talent, that gift within them and us that can make our world
better and brighter for all of us? What will you do? Or, what won’t you do?
Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
Please feel free
to connect with me at:
Twitter
at @jrlewisauthor
Facebook
at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author
If you like Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out what
other readers have said about my novels.
Stolen Lives
“Joseph Lewis
has created a cast of characters that you grow to care about. Their story is
filled with twists and turns that keep you reading. When the book ends you will
be left anticipating the next one! This was a story I could not put down!” “I am really glad I happened to see this
Trilogy while looking through my Kindle unlimited series. Great strong characters,
especially George and Brett. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Started Taking Lives and immediately
turned the pages to get to Stolen Lives.”
Two thirteen
year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of
FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others-
dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility
exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis
Shattered Lives
“I couldn’t put
it down, a really good book!” “Great book! I can't wait for next one!” “This
book is excellent. The whole series is definitely worth your time.” “Expertly
written. I ended up buying all the books in the series and am waiting eagerly
for the final installment Splintered
Lives."
Six men escaped
and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger
and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no
leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them. http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis
Splintered Lives
“Engaging
characters you care about. A story that is fast-paced and holds your attention
to the point you cannot put it down. Great finish to a great series.”
A 14 year old
boy has a price on his head, but he and his family don’t know it. Their family
vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out gunned and outnumbered, can this boy
protect his father and brothers? Without knowing who these men are? Or how many
there are? Or when they might come for him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis
Taking Lives
“Great book by
Joseph Lewis. Many twists and turns. Fasted paced.” “Couldn’t put the book down.” “Great story can't wait to read the next
one!” “Great book! I really enjoyed it. Good author!” “Each character is
developed thoroughly, igniting the reader's interest and stirring emotions. The
frustration of the detective flows to the reader. The young boys are
endearing.”
FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search
for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of
the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI
Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate
pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that
Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course
and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way
out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis