The Big Rocks

"Today at EDS", which for some of you scratching your head, might say..."what is EDS?" Is a blog-site set up for parents, grandparents, friends, and church-goers that enjoy keeping up and learning about what is going on at Emmanuel Day School, Newport, RI. It is a blog that expresses my reflections daily, teacher's insights, and those views that what we strongly subscribe to in our school.


Welcome!! I wish I could present you all with a shiny red apple and newly sharpened bouquet of #2 Yellow pencils, as I did the teachers this past week... just imagine and read on...

This Week at EDS:

Sermon and Chapel: "The Big Rocks"

The Big Rocks. Well I am sure many of you are familiar or have seen this demonstration of placing your "Big Rocks" into an empty vessel first so as to then make room for the smaller rocks, pebbles, sand and water...all items fitting into the glass jar. Trite? maybe..Usable? always, and definitely a large reminder each time you "perform" this act how impacting it can be...even with the very young mind.
After an explanation of what Big Rocks are, I ask the group of new EDS'ers "What are your Big Rocks in life?" I am astounded by the responses... I am now aware that a new and refreshing type of childhood is at hand among us since the last time I did this.
They all look in wonderment at first, and then I nudge a few responses..."How about....?" I am quickly interrupted by a voice from the crowd... "LOVE". I gulp. "Yes...great one!" "Love is certainly a Big Rock" (write it on our board).... I then to try to formulate my thought again, (something like "Family", maybe...) and then I hear, "SELF".... "WOW"..."Who said that?" and "Yes, loving ourselves should be a Big Rock!" (I am floored now). Thinking my same thoughts about the "usuals" and listing them..."friends, family, education, food, shelter"... I am still lost on the first two responses... so I look at our list and suggest that we are missing and item, right? So, I suggest, "How 'bout God?" The response..."Well, He is all around us anyway Miss Dawn. That is what you always say." (GULP) SO...I think "Self?" "Love?" maybe these kids know more than I?? As is always the case... my lessons ,most frequently come directly from them.

We did go on to complete the exercise. We had a second-string of responses of pebbles, sand and water. They all made perfect sense, and were correct. The message received in my end game... yet, it made me think hard about the first two.

Not sure about you, but my upbringing, (not suggesting demonation), didn't include self love. (sadly). Respect? maybe..as long as I followed the confines of how one can be self-respectful.
No one ever encouraged me in exploration of what self-love and self-respect meant. And yet ultimately it is the very two things that Jesus professes we do to be whole, happy and complete. ????We know through years of learning, book reading, and perhaps, therapy, that we can't love others (truly) until we love ourselves. Does this suggest that Jesus loved himself? You betcha! He'd have to!!!! (If the theory is to work anyway).
Where are we in our world and in our thinking when children can say that? I will tell you. We have made GREAT strides. We are raising children who will not succumb to the stresses of others and learn that THEY are of value. There is no place for guilt and shame in this world. Jesus would not have it for you...and if HE thought YOU thought it of yourself he would have saddled up to you in some ancient school, well, pub, synagogue,beach, somewhere and told you how ridiculous you were and to never it mind as God had real work for you.
Jesus wasn't about shame.
I felt horrible yesterday. For the first time in more than 3 years in opening and teaching at EDS I contracted my one and only illness that puts me into bed, (on the second day of school)..."Strept Throat". I felt so guilty it being Day 2 and I knew I had it... I never get sick and I always know the minute this is in my body. I had two options... Stick it out and spend the day miserably, (infecting others, maybe?) Because it was Day 2? or Go to bed and call my Doctor? After my Rock Sermon I decided to take care and love myself. Sometimes one must see to one's self for the good of the order. Thursday was a brighter day filled with my usual high energy and enthusiasm. Isn't that what God would have wanted for me? God is never interested in the leftovers of what I have to give... The Source craves my very best. And so do I! That is love at it's very best.
Please don't fill your glass jar with the smallest things...when you need to fit the larger important items you may not have the space, time, energy, or health to do so...again I am reminded that the simplest lessons are right. We are right to expect the Big Rocks in our life!

Dawn M. Grinnell, Director EDS and Children's Ministries Emmanuel Church