Perks

Is pushing people down a good way to treat them or a bad way? i asked as the 6 children and i gathered for our story circle.

"A bad way," chimed several voices.

Well, what about sharing your swing?

"A good way!" the responded.

All right, who can think of some other good ways to treat people?

As the answers came in, we discussed the simple things like sharing and taking turns, and the harder things like feeding the hungry, clothing those who have none, visiting the sick.  We discussed a few practical ways we could all serve G-d by serving and doing good to others.

They got it, and it showed.  Outside, they didn't argue over the swings or balls.  Back inside, Timmy made a special point of helping the newest student find a pencil when he wanted to write something specific on his take home paper, and didn't want it in crayon.

The best of all, thought, was when Timmy sidled up to me when no one else was looking and said, "This is a good way G-d wants us to treat people, too," and gave me one of his long, hard bear hugs.

There are perks to being a Sunday school teacher, and hugs are one of them.


Today is:

Buffalo Races -- Chon Buri, Thailand (lots of water buffalo contests, including fancy dress!; through the week)

Candies Day -- they have to be kidding -- this close to Hallowe'en?!

Coronation Day -- Cambodia

Cumhuriyet Bayrami -- Turkey (Republic Day)(1923)

Full Hunter's Moon/Full Blood Moon/Full Sanguine Moon (some also consider this the true Harvest Moon, if last month's came too early)
     Thadingyut Full Moon/Buddhist Lend ends -- Myanmar
     Vap Full Moon Poya Day

Hermit Day / Hide From Everyone Day -- internet generated, for those who would rather have a peaceful day today than celebrate the other holidays listed; look up how to be a hermit on wikihow

Internet Day -- it's predecessor went live today, see Today in History for detail

Laugh Suddenly For No Reason A Lot Today Day (And end up either getting yourself and everyone around you in a good mood, or yourself being observed at the hospital in a padded room.)

Naming Day -- Tanzania

National Cat Day -- US (with the goal of getting 10,000 cats adopted from shelters today)

National Disgusting Little Pumpkin-Shaped Candies Day

National Oatmeal Day

October Bank Holiday -- Ireland

Second Fiddle of the Month -- Fairy Calendar (a very poorly attended event -- who wants to play second fiddle?)

St. Mary of Edessa's Day (Patron against sexual temptation)

World Psoriasis Day


Birthdays Today:

Winona Ryder, 1971
Kate Jackson, 1948
Richard Dreyfuss, 1947
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 1938
Bill Mauldin, 1921
Fanny Brice, 1891
James Boswell, 1740 (wrote the biography of Samuel Johnson)
Edmund Halley, 1656 (yes, that Halley, found the comet)--this is the
date based on the OS calendar, often you will find his birthday listed
as Nov. 8, because of the switch in calendar use.


Today in History:

Cyrus the Great entered the city of Babylon, BC539
First trial for witchcraft in Paris, 1390
Sir Walter Raleigh, adventurer, writer, and courtier, is beheaded, 1618
A severe earthquake shakes New England, 1727
Mozart's opera Don Giovanni receives its first performance in Prague, 1787
The first Ohio River steamboat leaves Pittsburgh for New Orleans, 1811
Queen Victoria grants Cecil Rhodes rights to Zambezia, 1889
The first intercity trucking service, from Colorado City to Snyder, Texas, begins running, 1904
Turkey declares its independence as the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, 1923
Israeli forces invade the Sinai Peninsula and push Egyptian forces back toward the Suez Canal, 1956
Cassius Clay wins his first professional fight, 1960
Syria exits from the United Arab Republic, 1961
Montreal's World Fair, Expo 67, closes with over 50 million visitors, 1967
The first-ever computer-to-computer link is established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, 1969
The American Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to 951 Gaspra, becoming the first probe to visit an asteroid, 1991
In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presents its report, which condemns both sides for committing atrocities, 1998
Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off on STS-95 with 77-year old John Glenn on board, making him the oldest person to go into space, 1998
In Rome, European heads of state sign the Treaty and Final Act establishing the first European Constitution, 2004