"Welcome to my blog space. I believe that God has carefully placed gems in our paths to fill our days with joy. The challenge for us is to take the time to notice them. My desire is to share the gems in my life so that, hopefully, you will see the ones He's placed in yours. I hope what you read here will be worth your time and you'll want to return often." - Cathy

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Sweetly Smiling Maidens in Aprons

As several friends entered the large room together, a young girl came running up to her mother. The girl’s eyes were sparkling and her face was alive with pride as she said, “Momma, I cooked pancakes.” Her mother heaped praise on the girl as she ushered us to the serving table. This was the Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Fundraiser for the local Girl Scout Troop.

            We each filled our plates with pancakes, sausage, and agonized over our choices of syrup including homemade strawberry and blueberry. At the end of the serving line, eager Girl Scouts were waiting to help with drinks.
            Each girl, adorned in a cute little apron, was excited to be there, more than willing to help where help was needed, and to make each guest who came to support them feel welcome. Young ladies taking their assignments seriously refilled our drinks quickly.
Second and third servings were offered and encouraged. The girls would even bring it to you, so you didn’t have to get up. When we had finally eaten our fill (or more), the girls whisked our dirty dishes away and cleaned the table.
There was enjoyable conversation among friends while we waited for the Silent Auction forms to be snatched up signaling the last chance to bid was over. The prizes were awarded to the winning bidders. When the tally for the night was announced, the girls had earned $1,500.00, a good reward for the busy little bees to use for special projects the rest of this year.
            I am proud to know some of the local leaders and their passion for training girls to be future successes and leaders in whatever career they chose. These ladies are to be commended for their dedication, but they aren’t doing it for that. Theirs is a heart of love for girls. They give up some of their personal time to lead these girls, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks, Ladies!
100th Anniversary Trefoil
            The Girl Scout organization is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. They hold a long tradition of preparing girls for the future. Their Promise, Law, and Slogan speak to their focus:
The Girl Scout Promise:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law
The Girl Scout Law:
I will do my best to be
Honest and Fair,
Friendly and Helpful,
Considerate and Caring,
Courageous and Strong, and
Responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
 

The Girl Scout Slogan
"Do a Good Turn Daily"

            Do you know a Girl Scout Leader? Send her a note of thanks for what she is doing for America’s future. That can be your good turn for today. Volunteer to help with a troop activity, sharing your special expertise with the Girls.
Local Girl Scouts on an outing
            Do you know a Girl Scout? Encourage her to stay in Scouts and benefit from the entire program. Support her when you can – buying cookies, helping with expenses, or telling her about your time in scouting if you were a scout.
            I have fond memories of that night when the sweetly smiling faces of maidens in aprons and their leaders took the time to feed me and make me feel special – and that brings me joy!

 May your days be filled with joy moments-

Cathy

6 comments:

  1. Cathy:
    I remember using this story in a Girl Scout Sunday "sermon". I think of it often when dealing with these young girls. They are my seeds!

    There was a woman who wanted peace in the world and peace in her heart and all sorts of good things, but she was very frustrated. The world seemed to be falling apart. She would read the newspapers and get depressed.

    One day she decided to go shopping, and she went into a mall and picked a store at random. She walked in and was surprised to see Jesus behind the counter. She knew it was Jesus because he looked just like the pictures she’d seen on holy cards and devotional pictures. She looked again and again at him, and finally she got up enough nerve and asked, “Excuse me, are you Jesus?”

    “I am.”


    “Do you work here?”

    “No,” Jesus said, “I own the store.”

    “Oh, what do you sell in here?”

    “Oh, just about anything!”

    “Anything?”

    “Yeah, anything you want. What do you want?”

    She said, “I don’t know.”

    “Well,” Jesus said, “feel free, walk up and down the aisles, make a list, see what it is that you want, and then come back and we’ll see what we can do for you.”

    She did just that, walked up and down the aisles. There was peace on earth, no more war, no hunger or poverty, peace in families, no more drugs, harmony, clean air, careful use of resources. She wrote furiously. By the time she got back to the counter, she had a long list.

    Jesus took the list, skimmed through it, looked up and smiled, “No problem.” And then he bent down behind the counter and picked out all sorts of things, stood up, and laid out the packets.

    She asked, “What are these?”

    Jesus replied, “Seed packets. This is a catalog store.”

    She said, “You mean I don’t get the finished product?”

    “No, this is a place of dreams. You come and see what it looks like, and I give you the seeds. You plant the seeds. You go home and nurture them and help them to grow and someone else reaps the benefits.”

    “Oh,” she said.

    And she left the store without buying anything.

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    1. Thanks, Linc! I remember you telling this story. It reminds me of the rich young man who went away from Jesus sorrowful because he chose not to take part in salvation. Thank you for the seeds you plant and the way you nurture those seeds until they burst open and produce beautiful things.

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  2. Good writing Cathy! Enjoyed this one!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to see how God blesses me with joy moments every day. Love you!

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  3. Your Girl Scout story brought back a flood of memories. I got a late start in Girl Scouts (7th grade) but loved every minute of it. There are skills I learned in scouting that I still use today. Great story, Cathy.

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    1. Thanks, Sally! I have some wonderful memories of Girl Scouts as well. I lived in Germany at the time so we had some fantastic field trips.

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