Many years ago, when I was dissolving a marriage and trying to decide whether to leave Houston for Southern California, I came to the humbling realization that I was nothing more than a student in life. This despite the fact that I had been a college instructor and once thought myself wiser than most.

Yeah right.

It was such a relief to acknowledge my student status and the permission/acknowledgment that I would be one for life. That gave me permission to fail, to make mistakes, to be more humble. To learn more from others. To be a kid again. To be more forgiving. Later, as a student,  I would learn prayers of gratitude, and that has become a daily morning practice.

This morning in the shower, I re-read the “lesson” on the Philosophy Shower Gel sitting on the shelf.

It was a little message to savor:

Life is a classroom. We are both student and teacher. Each day is a test. And each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject:

Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence and the list goes on. It’s something money cannot buy and credentials rarely produce. Being the smartest, the prettiest,  the most talented, the richest or even the poorest can’t help. Being an humble person can, and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude.

The photo with quote from John Quincy Adams is an extension of grace that we share when we inspire others to dream, learn and do more. It was found on Facebook and I wish I knew to whom I might give credit.  In the meantime, I aspire to be a better student in life and to practice grace at every opportunity.  –Roberta Murphy, a San Diego real estate broker.

The post The Luxury of Grace appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

And the kids in Afghanistan desperately need our help.

Many schools throughout the country have been destroyed and teachers have been executed–resulting in a literacy rate that is one of the lowest in the world. Some American soldiers, cooperating with locals, are assisting in trying to reopen some of these schools and our assistance is required.

Desperately needed are pencils, pens, sharpeners, world maps, notebooks, colored pencils (no melting crayons!), chalk, chalkboards,  all kinds of paper, rulers, stickers, backpacks and anything else you would normally provide for school children. Free boxes can be picked up at US Post Offices and measuring 12x12x5.5 that can hold a substantial number of supplies. Postage should run $12.50 or less regardless of weight.

My first box is already packed–and marked “school supplies.”

Here is the plea (and mailing address) from Chaplain Capt. Joseph DuWors:

Some have asked about possibly supporting local schools or children. If you are still interested, the time to begin collecting is now. Due to the challenges of this area, many timess, if there is a school building, there may not be a teacher. Or, if there is a school and teacher, there may not be supplies. Many of the schools have been damaged and teachers driven off by the Taliban more than four years ago.

Our presence and influence here is aimed at providing security for the legitimate government of Afghanistan. We hope that security will enable schools to once again reappear. Our long-term plan for regional stability includes schooling for Afghani children.

We do have some resources locally to obtain the necessary supplies. However, we could really use some help. So, if anyone is interested in sending care packages of humanitarian aid for schools, below I am listing basic school supply items that would be helpful.

I will be consolidating all school supplies for distribution, and, if my boss allows, I will go with the soldiers to distribute it so I can send you pictures and video or your school supplies reaching the children.

The mailing address remains the same as regular care packages. Thanks again for not just thinking of us, but of those whom we are here to support as well.

Writing Materials is the primary need:
Pens
Pencils & Sharpeners
Erasers
Paper pads
Notebooks
(Any kind of paper is useful)
Please no crayons (they will melt)
If you want to send markers for drawing that is okay
chalk and erasers
rulers

You may also consider:
school backpacks
chalkboards
floor matts for sitting on
world maps
soccer balls

Again, Thanks!!

CH (CPT) J. Joseph DuWors
HHT, 4/2 SCR
FOB SPIN BOLDAK
APO AE 09355

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