This morning Father, the Malmstrom home was a flurry of activity. Jonathan and Aidan eagerly prepared for their first day of the new school year, and Shannon got herself ready for the first day in her new full-time position as a Para-Educator at the school as well. As we’ve discussed many times Lord, I’m very proud of my wife, and love seeing her so excited to take this step.
And with the vision of her smile drifting through my mind, my prayers this morning have been focused on Shannon and all the other educators that strive daily to prepare our children for the future. Teachers are truly special people Father, and I thank You for instilling that love and sense of commitment in their hearts.
With that thought on my heart Lord, I’d like to close today with a prayer I found this morning. It appears to originate from the United Church of Christ’s website, although I wasn’t able to track down a specific author. It’s entitled “A Prayer for Teachers”:
God of Love, Thank you for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift. Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides. Thank you for teachers who expect much and love enough to demand more. Thank you for the special teacher each one of us remembers.
God of Mercy, Sustain teachers who give everything they have and feel abandoned when society expects too much. Strengthen teachers who assume the blame for so many problems beyond their control. Help exhausted teachers rest.
God of Strength, Encourage teachers to care and inspire them to nourish. Motivate teachers to keep on learning for the fun of it and to make learning fun for children.
We wonder at teachers who know how to quiet a class of five-year-olds or help fourth grade girls be empathetic. We admire teachers who enjoy middle school writers, or teach physics or math or civics. We cannot even imagine how to help every single student achieve Adequate Yearly Progress. Bless the people who are expected to accomplish these miracles and who know how to comfort children when miracles don’t happen.
God of Justice, help our nation find a way to steward our vast wealth to support teachers in their special calling, wherever they teach and whatever the race or religion or gender or wealth of the children.
We pray these things in the name of our Great Teacher, Jesus Christ.
Well Father, it certainly was a busy weekend, but all-in-all a wonderful couple days’ time spent enjoying time with family and good friends. With Jonathan still at Kamp and Aidan spending the night with friends, Shannon and I got to go out Friday evening for a fun “date night” (I so love “dating” my wife Lord…). Saturday morning we picked up Aidan, and spent the remainder of the morning attending the closing ceremonies at Kay’s Kamp. We got some quiet time to rest Saturday afternoon, and then headed out to have dinner with a group of our friends. It rained much of the evening, but we had an absolutely wonderful time nonetheless. Sunday morning we braved the downpour to attend morning services at Ewell’s St. Paul United Methodist Church, and enjoyed jubilant music, a wonderful Message from Pastor Kris and the fellowship of our church family. We managed to catch up on a little housework while relaxing the remainder of the day, and concluded the weekend with a tasty dinner out together at a new Mexican restaurant in Smyrna. As I said before Lord, it was a hectic few days, but one that was truly filled with Your Blessings… Thank You!
Today’s Meditations Monday Scripture comes from Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, Chapter 2. This morning while driving into the office, I heard an extremely inspiring story on 88.7 The Bridge which truly touched my heart. They played an interview with a young lady who is currently facing her own mortality due to an uncontrolled cancer that has now spread to her brain. Instead of dwelling in her suffering, she’s instead focusing on Your Blessings in her life, and lifted praises to You as she was baptized yesterday. It was a humbling message of Faith Father, and it led me to the verse choice I’m praying on this morning:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)
So often when we get into situations that cause us pain, or discomfort, or even just inconvenience we develop “spiritual short-sightedness”, and mire ourselves down in our burdens rather than allowing those trials to strengthen our Faith, and to draw us closer to You. I pray that we can all learn from her courageous example Father, and seek You even in our darkest hour.
Heavenly Father, I lift my voice in praise for the Blessings You bring to our lives each day. I pray that Your comforting embrace continues to be felt by Kim and her family during this difficult season, and that they can draw strength from the knowledge that You’re always with them.
Whew… What a week it’s been Lord. Between a hectic schedule at my office, my visit to Kay’s Kamp and a myriad of other “life” events (getting new tires for the car, dealing with ill dogs, etc..), I’m quite ready for the weekend to begin. That being said Father, even with the fast-paced nature of the past few days I’ve had a very deep sense of Your Presence this week. That embodiment of peace in my Spirit has helped keep me focused, calm and joyful throughout, and for that I thank You.
To close out the week Lord, I’d like to share a song that’s been in my head as of late. It’s actually a song that’s been out for quite some time, but when I heard this rendition it was like hearing it for the first time. The song is called “Bless the Broken Road”, and this recording is by the group Selah :
Such a haunting performance, and a powerful message Father. 🙂
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your overwhelming presence in my life this past week. The more I open my heart to Your Voice, the more I realize that it’s been there all along. I pray that with Your guidance we’re all able to traverse life’s broken roads, and find our way into Your Loving Arms.
As I wrote to You yesterday Father, Wednesday morning I was Blessed with the opportunity to visit Kay’s Kamp at St. Andrew’s School, and got to witness first-hand the wonderful work the Kamp Staff does for the children that attend. As Jonathan has been a Kamper since they opened their doors in 2009, it was an emotional and eye-opening visit for me, and I left feeling very thankful for the Blessings You deliver through their hands.
As part of my visit, I spent time with the “Newsletter Group”. Each day at Kamp, a newsletter is created by the staff and children which describes what’s going on, reports on Kamp gossip and lists some answers to interview questions posed by the Kamp “reporters”. With the assistance of the staff, I was able to add a question to the list for the day…
What about Kamp are you thankful for?
Here are their answers Father. 🙂
– All the activities we do because can’t do this stuff at home.
– The Pillow Fairy coming every year.
– That kids get to enjoy themselves here!
– Thankful for just being here.
– Pranking the boys.
– Sports and Games.
– Coffee.
– Zoo Keepers.
– Just being part of it.
– The food.
– Bathrooms.
– Dessert.
– Jennie and all floaters.
– Bugspray.
– Learning new things.
– For coming here every summer.
– The Kampers.
– Derek.
– The kitchen staff.
– The counselors.
– Markie.
– Mr. Bling.
– Kristin.
– All the stuff they do for us so we can have fun.
While I don’t actually know what all of these mean, or who some of these folks are Father, it’s obvious that the staff and the Kampers are very thankful for this week of fun. 🙂
Heavenly Father, for all of the Blessings you bestow on us each day; both those that are obvious and those that grace us without fanfare, we give thanks. I pray that Your Light continues to brighten our hearts, and that we are effective in shining that divine radiance to those around us.
Today Father, my heart is virtually overflowing from this morning’s experience.
As I mentioned last week, through the kindness of the Kaylyn Elaine Warren Foundation I had made arrangements to attend “Media Day” at Kay’s Kamp today, so I could see first-hand what this unique camp is all about.
Kay’s Kamp is currently the only pediatric oncology camp in Delaware. It’s the realization of a vision held by Kaylyn Elaine Warren, who left this earth to join You in March of 2007 at the tender age of 18. While going through treatment for leukemia herself, she learned first-hand the effects that battling a life-threatening illness can have on the world of a child. With that thought in mind, she envisioned a way for other children in that situation to have a place to revel in their childhood; to spend time not focusing on survival, but on being a child and living. When Kaylyn left to be with You Father, the torch was taken up by her family and close friends who formed the Kaylyn Elaine Warren Foundation in her loving memory, and began the long journey of making Kaylyn’s dream a reality.
Kay’s Kamp opened for the first time on August 8, 2009, and has been an amazing Blessing for the children they’ve hosted each year. Since Jonathan attended that first year, we’ve come to think of these people as family Lord, and I thank You from the bottom of my heart for bringing us together. It’s a testament to Your love that the selfless vision of one sick young girl could bring such light, laughter and hope to so many others.
And today, I got a wonderful opportunity to see the love they bring to these children. 🙂
As Jonathan had attended Kamp for two years already, I thought I had some concept of what was involved… I wasn’t even close.
As I drove onto the beautiful grounds of Saint Andrew’s School where Kamp is currently being held, I was immediately overwhelmed by the sight I beheld. The main field was full of blue-shirted Kampers and staff, all standing around a huge multi-colored hot air balloon.
As a surprise for the children, the Kamp planners had arranged for hot air balloon rides and they were in the process of rotating the kids through their turns. When the breeze kicked up making further rides impossible, the Kampers paused for some quick photos and then were whisked off to the main building for the rest of the day’s activities.
In the watchful company of one of the Kamp’s wonderful staff, I spent the rest of the morning going between buildings, and experiencing some of the myriad of well-coordinated activities they filled the children’s days with. From arts and crafts projects, to a brainstorming session for the Kamp’s daily newsletter, to splashing around in the beautiful indoor pool, the Kampers were kept well entertained and cared for by the tireless and devoted Kamp Staff.
On every Kamper’s face I saw nothing but smiles, reflecting joyful memories that I know they’ll take with them when Kamp ends this Saturday.
On the way out, I got the opportunity to stop by “The Zoo” (the Kamp Medical facility), and spoke with Mary Ellen McKnight who heads and coordinates the medical staff that resides there throughout the week. Although certainly tired from the week’s activities, like every other staff member I encountered today she was positively beaming about the experience and couldn’t say enough about how thankful she felt to be involved with such a worthwhile endeavor, and such wonderful people.
All in all Father, it was a joyous and humbling visit. I was absolutely Blessed by the experience.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the wondrous gifts You bestow on these children through the selfless efforts of the Kaylyn Elaine Warren Foundation. Please continue to Bless them on this inspired mission, and allow the light You shine through their efforts to be sent out to the world through the children they serve.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
