Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Jellybeans

Originally posted June 1, 2007 at Miss Ladybug.

In Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Jellybeans: A Fourth of July Story, Heather French Henry brings us once again into the world of young Claire and her dog, Pepper.

It's 4th of July morning, and Claire complains she doesn't have any freedom because of Mom's rules, such as no jellybeans right after breakfast. Upset, she takes Pepper outside to go play with her friend, Robbie.

Claire doesn't find Robbie, but her neighbor, General Jones, is there. In greeting the General, she tells him she is unhappy. Inquiring into her troubles, he tells her: "This is the date the patriots signed the Declaration of Independence for 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'" Claire questions, "Independence is freedom, isn't it?" The General explains, "Yes, it's the freedom to find happiness."

Claire complains to General Jones about Mom's rules. He reassures her "You have to learn how to be free, Claire. Your mom makes good rules. That's what the Declaration of Independence is about - good rules for a free country." Robbie then arrives with a bang, throwing some poppers on the ground, which startles Pepper. Claires asks him to throw them somewhere else so he doesn't scare Pepper. General Jones points out it's a good rule...

Later, a lightening storm arrives. General Jones makes a comment about Ben Franklin. Mom calls Claire to come inside, and advises Robbie to get home before it rains, too. Claire doesn't want Robbie to have to learn, but the General gently reminds her about "good rules".

While Claire is in her room, she sees Ben Franklin outside with a pair of kites. He invites her to go work on the Declaration of Independence with him. They fly away to Colonial America. Claire sees British soldiers and patriots, one of whom is Robbie. Upon arriving in Philadelphia, Claire sees some men looking over a large paper. Thomas Jefferson, who looks like General Jones, reads what they've been working on:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of jellybeans..."

This makes Claire giggle. "You can't say 'jellybeans.'" Mr. Jefferson explains that jellybeans make him happy. Claire points out that not everyone feels the same way, "and the Declaration is for everybody." Claire is inspired: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Ben then takes Claire back home.

Mom wakes Claire up from her dream. Claire tells her mother:

"What a day, Mom! First I learned about rules for freedom, from General Jones. Then I flew to Philadelphia with Mr. Franklin and helped with everyone's freedom."

Later, everyone is outside watching the fireworks, and Claire and Robbie get to have some jellybeans.

Included at the back of the book is "A Brief History of the Fourth of July".

This book is recommended for children ages 5 to 9. For this age group, it's a simple story to help them begin to understand how America came to be, and that to be a free society, we all need to follow good rules. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Jellybeans would make a nice addition to a young child's library.

Miss Ladybug, a life-long book lover, earned her Masters in Elementary Education. She blogs regularly at Miss Ladybug.

What Freedom Means to Me: A Flag Day Story

Originally posted June 1, 2007 at Miss Ladybug.

Quite by accident, I discovered a series of books focusing on American holidays. As I am wont to do since beginning my journey to becoming an elementary school teacher, I go to Barnes and Noble and peruse the children's book section to see if I find anything of interest. Sometimes, I was there for a purpose (course work in which I needed to find materials on a certain topic or theme), and other times, I'm just looking to see if anything catches my eye. One day, I found a book about Veterans Day by Heather French Henry. Heather was Miss America 2000, whose platform was raising awareness of the plight of homeless veterans. Her father is a disabled Vietnam veteran. According to one critic's statement, all royalties from Heather's books go to the Heather French Foundation for Veterans. I'll go back and review the Veterans Day book come November - I promise! Now, it's time for Flag Day...

Heather's books follow the adventure of young Claire, her friend, Robbie, and her dog, Pepper. In What Freedom Means to Me: A Flag Day Story, Claire is having trouble with Pepper not obeying commands. Her neighbor, General Jones, encourages Claire by telling her Pepper will learn as she grows, but right now, she's just a puppy. Claire feels bad about ordering Pepper around. General Jones suggests they all come along with him to celebrate Flag Day. Claire agrees, but says she'll have to clean her room when they are done.

General Jones takes out an old, folded flag. Robbie asked why it is folded that way. "'To look like the hats the first patriots wore in their fight for freedom,' said the general." Claire notices something else:

As they prepared to raise the flag, Claire frowned. "It's not the real one, she wailed. "It's missing too many stars."

What happened to them?" Robbie asked.

"They showed up later," explained General Jones. "The first flag, made by Betsy Ross, had thirteen stars-one for each colony that broke free from the British."

If you didn't already know, there isn't any actual proof that Betsy Ross made the original Stars and Stripes, so when sharing this book, it should be noted that this is legend, not a provable fact.

General Jones also gets out craft supplies. Claire gets the idea they can make their "own Betsy Ross flag". General Jones comments that his children did the same thing when they were little, and that's why these supplies were packed away with the flag. Together, Claire and Robbie decide that each of the stars should have what freedom means to different people. Some of the things the children heard:

"Delivering mail by day and studying law at night."

"Acting silly sometimes."

"Being true to myself."

"Voting for leaders who represent the people."

"Being elected president and always speaking my mind."

Claire's mother reminds her she still needs to clean her room. "I will...' is her response. When the children return with the stars, Pepper makes a mess of the craft supplies. The general reminds the children they haven't made stars of their own. What does freedom mean to them? "Not worrying about Pepper" and "Not being a slave." Then, the general notes they are still missing a star for Pepper...

"She doesn't have freedom," Claire balked.

"Because Claire's like that nasty British king who ordered the first Americans around," teased Robbie."

Claire pouted, thinking about her own orders and her mom's. "Are we still free when we do what we're told?" she asked the general.

He smiled. "Following guidelines doesn't erase freedom."

The general goes on to explain that the guidelines we follow, such as traffic lights, help to make life safer. As the sun goes down, the general says it's time to take the flag down. The children go home, and Claire is reminded that she still needs to clean her room. She grumbles about it, because she doesn't like doing it, but it helps her understand that with freedom also comes responsibility.

At the back of the book, there is "A Brief History of Flag Day", beginning with the legend of General Washington asking Betsy Ross to make the first flag in 1776, the Continental Congress stipulating the flag would have 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 white stars on a field of blue on June 14, 1777, then how stars were added for each new state, and finally how June 14th was declared Flag Day. The final note: "The red stands for courage, the white for innocence, and the blue for justice."

According to barnesandnoble.com this book is recommended for ages 5 to 9. I'm not the biggest fan of the plot in this particular book - I don't think it's completely clear to a young reader that the lesson is "with freedom comes responsibility", but I do like that this book is highlighting a uniquely American holiday.

Miss Ladybug, a life-long book lover, earned her Masters in Elementary Education. She blogs regularly at Miss Ladybug.

He Loves Me. He Loves Me Not.

Wow. I sit down to write this post, and this screen feels like a stranger to me. I feel like I'm sitting down to chat with a long lost friend who I really haven't had a heart to heart with in years. I've been absent. My heart at least...absent.

It's been a painful month or so for me.

Sometimes I don't know how much to share - how much to be "real" about. So I've been avoiding this blog. I've been avoiding writing what's on my heart.

It's funny. As I sit down to write about it, I realize how, from the outside at least, my struggles seem so...trivial. Even to me. I look back at the last month and I think, "really, THAT'S what I was so upset about?"

But it's not about the "stuff" that's happened (which is really and truly nothing). It's about the state of my heart. The state of my soul.

Okay, everyone together now..."Ooooo, Deeeep!"

I've felt disappointed and betrayed by God (over that silly "nothing" stuff). And I reacted like I'm ashamed to say that I always react; not by turning to my comforter and receiving peace and healing...but by turning to God Almighty with my fist raised in anger and defiance.

What the hell are you doing?

Do you really even care?

Are you really even THERE?

This is such BS - what's the point of this pain and why aren't you DOING something?

And then I stopped talking to him all together. And then I started crying for the loneliness and the hurt. And then I sulked.

All the while I've heard him, "Are you ready to talk to me yet?"

NO.

"Now? Are you going to talk about this with me?"

LEAVE ME ALONE. YOU DON'T CARE ANYWAY.

"I'm here you know. Turning up the radio doesn't make me go away. Let's talk."

Aww, crap. Okay.

He's been showing me the painful truth about what I believe and (more importantly) what I don't believe. He's been bringing me deeper with him - have you noticed how it's always a painful process to get someplace wonderful?

Are you frustrated with my lack of details? I'm not avoiding them - it's just that they truly don't matter. What I've learned in the past month, however, is everything to me....it's the result...the purpose?... of my suffering.

There are things that a person can learn with her head, and yet it's still not a truth of her heart. Do you know what I mean? It's sort of like when you bring that first baby home with you for the first time. You keep thinking "I'm a mom"...and yet it takes some time for that reality to really sink in, for you to start living like it's true. It's not until it sinks all the way down deep into your heart that you are changed from the inside out.

So head vs. heart knowledge - I know lots of things with my head and my heart. I know with all my being that there is a God. I know with everything in me that he is mighty. Capable. Strong. Big. Sufficient and powerful to save me. Majestic. Holy. Powerful.

And yet....there are some things. Some crucially important things that are still just head knowledge for me. What has God been showing me lately that's such a revelation (you're gonna laugh - it seems that everyone can get this but me)? It's this:

God loves me.

Now, I can quote scripture all day long about how God loves me. I can show evidence. Argue a debate. Hell, I can probably build some sort of ultra-geeky spreadsheet detailing all the ways and reasons that God loves me.

But it's all in my head.

Lately, God has been asking me to let it sink into my heart. And I can hardly get real with him, have a conversation with him, or even spend quiet time with him...without totally bawling my eyes out. We went to church tonight, and by the end of worship I was sweating and trembling in my fight to maintain some composure.

He wants me. He wants my heart - all of it. And I'm just so friggin scared!

But I've been scared for a long time - it's the result of not really and truly trusting God. I guess I'd rather be afraid for what he'll do in my heart than for what life will be like if I don't let him in. Man. Sometimes he can just be so REAL.

And so damned persistent!

As I read The Shack, there were a few passages that had me bursting into tears and running the other way:

"You cannot produce trust, just as you cannot 'do' humility. It either is or is not. Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not know that I love you, you cannot trust me." (p.128)

"You [do not] know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it, you talk about it, but you don't know it." (p.144)

Ouch.

I've respected him. I've revered him. I've pursued him. But I don't think I've ever really trusted him...because I don't trust that he loves me.

So when something bad (or even remotely disappointing) happens, I immediately get angry and defensive and even more scared. I feel hurt because it seems that life's pains are evidence that I'm not really loved...that I'm not precious to him.

And lately, mercy upon mercies, the very One I've been shaking my fist at for the past month (and all the months before that for that matter) has been gently asking me to open another little door in my heart to him. And I'll tell ya what - the hinges to that little door are rusty and don't want to budge!

But I want it with everything I am - I WANT to believe with my whole heart that he loves me. I want to be able to trust him. As I closed my eyes during worship tonight, I could feel him pressing on the walls of my heart. I could almost feel him physically. But yet...I resist.

Why do I DO that?

I don't know how to end this post. It doesn't have a tidy ending because, well, it's not over yet! I'm a work in progress. I know I need some good quality quiet and alone time where I can pray and cry and let it all out...and more importantly, let him IN.

I'm interested in hearing your stories. How deeply do you know that God loves you. Does the phrase "God loves me" roll off your tongue in the same casual way that "we're having pizza for dinner" does? Or does it come bubbling out of your heart like that living water? Do you really know it with your heart? Either way - I'm in no position to judge. I'm just curious. And if you're one of the ones who has a deep down trust relationship and KNOW that God loves you with all you have...will you please tell me about how you came to know it?

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Seek The Lord Sunday is a weekly series I write at my blog, Call Her Blessed.  Come on over and say hi.  I'm looking forward to meeting you! ~Daiquiri