There is a
commercial that plays every so often that my daughters refuse to watch. As soon
as the first picture appears and the first notes of the song plays, they change
the channel. As they change the channel, one or the other says, “Oh no!” Never
fails.
It’s not because
they are heartless. In fact, it’s the opposite. They care, perhaps too much.
You might have
guessed, but the commercial I’m talking about is the ‘Stop Animal Abuse’
commercial and the song is Sarah McLachlan’s In the Arms of an Angel. I’ve
always loved the song. A colleague remarked when it first came out, “It sears
the soul!” and I would have to agree. Add the pictures of abused, sad, and starving
animals, the song and commercial hits like a Ronda Rousey punch.
A while back I
wrote about our rescue pup, Stella. It’s been over a year and she still hasn’t
quite warmed up to me. As long as Kim or one of the girls are around, I might
get to pet her, and only might. When they aren’t around and Stella is left
alone with me, I still get a growl.
Some strays are
tough to reach.
Got me thinking
. . .
As teachers,
counselors, administrators, administrative assistants, paras, librarians,
nurses, and cafeteria workers, we come across strays all the time.
Some are
disguised in American Eagle sweatshirts and Jordan shoes. Some send signals
with dyed hair, nose rings and gauges. Some blend in with all the other kids
walking the hallways between classes. Some hide behind a book, a cell phone and
earbuds. Some are outwardly defiant and hide behind a scowl, a sneer with
hooded eyes and a countenance of indifference or a look that says, “I dare you!”
We have them. We
see them. We may or may not notice them. We have them among us. Not sure if
they live among us or exist alongside of us, and mostly just out of arms reach.
They come to us
willingly. They come to us dragging their feet. They come to us putting in
time.
The abused
animal commercial asks us to send money to help the cause. In return, we get a
picture and a t-shirt.
I remind myself,
sometimes Kim and the girls, that we can’t save them all. Can’t bring them all
home with you. Just can’t. Too many.
But . . .
What about that
one kid in the back of the room trying so hard not to be noticed? That one kid
with the earbuds in and head ducked down? That one kid wandering the hallway
instead of being in class? That one kid sitting alone in the cafeteria eating
lunch or the one sitting alone in the cafeteria without any lunch? What about
that one kid who sits alone at the end of the hallway or on the floor in front
of a locker? What about that one kid on the playground watching all the other
kids play and who wishes to play along with them, with anyone? What about that one kid who remains
emotionless and silent when greeted with a smile and a hello?
Yeah, we have
them among us. All of us. The mall rats. The street kids. And we can’t save
them all. We can’t bring them all home with us. Just can’t. Too many.
I was that kid like
that once. At times even in my position and with my experience and with my ‘success’
I’m still one. Feels like it sometimes.
Perhaps . . .
We can notice
one or two among us. God knows there are enough of them to notice. Maybe just
one. If each of us noticed just one . . . then maybe . . . perhaps . . . Might
not get a picture or a t-shirt. But we might get something more valuable.
Something more meaningful. We might rescue a kid. Something to think about . .
.
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
I just finished
my fifth work of thriller/mystery fiction, Caught
in a Web and it’s currently being edited. I’ll keep you posted as to when
it will be published.
Please feel free
to connect with me at:
Twitter
at @jrlewisauthor
Facebook
at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author
If you like Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out my
novels:
Available on Amazon for .99 the Lives Trilogy
Prequel, Taking Lives:
FBI Agent Pete
Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys
left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know
one another, the lives of FBI Agent Kelliher and two boys become interwoven
with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them
are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as
each search for a way out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis
Stolen Lives,
Book One of the Lives Trilogy:
Two thirteen
year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of
FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others-
dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility
exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis
Shattered Lives, Book Two of the Lives Trilogy:
Six men escaped
and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger
and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no
leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them. http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis
Splintered Lives, Book Three of the Lives Trilogy:
It began in Arizona with death and it ends in
Arizona in death. A 14 year old boy has a price on his head, but he and his
family don’t know it. Their family vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out
gunned and outnumbered, can this boy protect his father and brothers? Without
knowing who these men are? Or how many there are? Or when they might come for
him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis
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Thank you for your comment. I welcome your thought. Joe