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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Flowers (10/03/05)
Ah, those precious daisies! There is something about these particular flowers that bring a sense of contentment and fulfillment to my heart. Most people think of daisies as fresh, sweet flowers with soft yellow centers and white silky petals, but for me the very word brings back memories.

A few years ago I was given an opportunity to teach a class. The kindergarten-age girls were called “daisies.”

The first night I taught I was so scared I could feel my knees knocking together when the class started. I remember praying that God would not send me more than I could handle. It was a cold Wednesday night in October. Two young, adorable daisies showed up. They wore yellow skirts with a special T-shirt with a daisy on the front. A yellow sash worn across their shirt finished off their uniform.

I introduced myself and asked them to share with me something they enjoyed doing that day. One of the little girls quietly shared that she enjoyed reading her Bible that morning with her mama and my heart grew warm. I found out that God could, and would, provide for me. I felt peace, like a river, come over me. As we worked on crafts, ate snacks, and discussed our lesson that night I knew God had placed me right where He wanted me. I was in for the most enjoyable, adventurous ride of my life.

As my class grew, God would invariably stretch my creativity and challenge my faith in Him. The years flew by. With every one of them, the number of new, little, daisy faces also grew. The uniforms changed to cute yellow jumpers and the curriculum became easier to teach. I became enamored by those God had entrusted into my care. I began to pray in earnest, asking God to send me someone to help me. I was pleasantly surprised when my nephew’s wife decided to pitch in. What a wonderful blessing it was to have a dependable, kind, loving helper. We worked as a team and became close friends.

I would prepare by reading the lesson and then finding little things to supplement the teaching. We always did a craft associated with the Bible story. I wanted to help my little daisies grow in the knowledge of the Lord and learn to trust Him in their young lives. I tried to bring more than enough for them to do each week because I was unwilling to waste even one minute of our precious time together.

I realized that these girls had energy to burn. I found a store going out of business in our area and bought some little pompoms for them to fling around as we sang the songs we learned every month. It was incredible what God did during those songs. Praise and worship came from our grateful hearts. My eyes would tear up listening to them sing with gusto.

For their birthdays there would be cake, little candies and party favors. Birthday plates, cups, napkins and tablecloths would make the room glow with love. Gifts would be given out and games played. We had a special time of fellowship with lots of smiles, laughs and hugs. The girls would surround the birthday girl and we would pray for her. When they left class they would come for hugs before running off to join their friends and family.

There were bumpy times as well. Discipline had to come sooner or later and with it there was also love and acceptance. I treated the girls as if they were my own. I learned to get through the hard times with lots of prayer and patience. God never let me down. Even on those nights when the story didn’t go just right or one of the daisies didn’t act just right hugs were given out just the same.

Let me encourage those of you who are thinking of teaching a class. I urge you to jump in and do it. God’s blessings will outweigh any reason you might have for saying no. There are so many children who need a nurturing, loving place to grow. Like flowers in a garden I watched my little daisies grow and blossom. As you open yourselves up to Gods’ leading, He will bless your socks off. I know from firsthand experience because I ran barefoot with my little daisies for years
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Debbie Sickler
10/10/05
My own mom had a class called daisies that I was a part of, so you brought back some fun memories. Overall this was good, but I did nottice a couple of things.

Someone on the message boards here at FW pointed out recently that too many adjectives in a row actually work against eachother. A few times you put two or three together in a row; the sentences would have more impact with the use of only one strong adjective instead. I also noted that in the last sentence of the second to last paragaph you used the word 'just' three times. Maybe 'just' leave it out? ;)

I really liked your last line though, about running barefoot with your daisies. It tied the whole flower theme together nicely!
Anita Neuman
10/12/05
What sweet memories. I'm so glad you shared them with us! I also like how you wrapped it up. Great entry!
Phyllis Inniss 
10/13/05
This is a super entry. The interest in your story never flagged. I must congratulate you on doing a fine and much needed job.
Deborah Porter 
10/18/05
Linda, this was so sweet and with a little editing to tighten up the flow, it would have done even better than it actually did. But really, it was delightful and ranked 10th in the Level 1 list, which is very good. You also ranked 37th overall, out of a total of 145 entries. So give yourself a pat on the back and be encouraged.

With love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)