by Sheri L. VanDuyn
The saying
goes that “Necessity
is the invention of life.” Seems that throughout my life, I have been my own
inventor.
When our
son, Brian was born, my husband bought me a station wagon. After all, I now had two babies
in car seats and could put the stroller in the back hatch. Brian sat beside me in the
front and Sarah sat in the back seat behind me. (This was before all the new safety laws
had been passed. Sometimes don’t you marvel at how you were raised and that you are
still alive even though you did not have all the requirements that exist today?) My next
vehicle was a van with 2 doors on the passenger side and none behind me as the driver. I
always had to walk around to unload from the other side. I continually said to my husband
that vans should have a door behind the driver that open and it sure would be nice if
these doors would open easier or could open automatically. Soon after, I began to notice
vans with this door behind the driver and not much longer automatic opening on the
passenger’s side. Today many vans later, I have one that opens automatically on both
sides.
In the art
world and the basket world there have been many simple gadgets that I have adapted for my
classes. But before all of this when I was back in high school, I would write my day out
in a mini spiral notebook; my “planner” if you will and I would check off the
events of my school filled day. Sometimes I would forget to write in this 3” x
5” spiral book, so I would take another piece of paper to write on and paper clip it
on that particular day. This started to become bulky and the paper clips began to catch on
everything. So then I took a dab of glue and would “dot” the back of the paper
and attach in place. Seems I was the forerunner of the Post-it Note.
These
“sticky notes” can now be found all over my lesson plans, daily planner, the
refrigerator and even the dashboard of my van. Once these Post-it notes were only
available in yellow in a square size, but today the pastel colors have expanded, and have
made the way for brighter, bolder colors in various sizes along with printed shapes to
appeal to every taste. Today a person would not think of gluing a note in place; they
would simply reach for a colorful, practical and inexpensive “sticky note.”
Now the
opportunity would be theirs! But how? Where could they go at such a young age? The
presenter would give them a Ziploc bag with 5 “sticky notes.” On each note was
written the phrase-“God loves you, and so do I.” They were instructed to be
missionaries by placing these “notes” in interesting spots for someone to find.
The
following week as these young members again gathered on the front steps the presenter
asked them if they were missionaries to please stand up. All of them did. After they were
seated again, she asked, “Where did they place their “sticky notes?” The
congregation chuckled as each proudly announced their creative spots such as Dad’s
remote, Mom’s hairbrush, Grandma’s refrigerator, the mailbox for the Postman,
and their Teacher’s desk. Already something so small, yet so inventive was being used
to spread God’s Word. The presenter told them, “Good job, children! Always
remember to spread God’s message even though you are young. Be His missionaries
wherever you go and tell others about His love.”
This is so
intriguing to me how something so simple can be used for spreading God’s Word. I am
looking at “sticky notes” in a new way-not just for my own daily purposes, but
for God’s needs. I am using these “notes” even more to jot notes of love
and encouragement to teachers by placing them in their mailboxes, at home in lunches and
suitcases. So, my challenge to you is to use these little notes to spread good will and
cheer at this Christmas season and throughout the New Year. – So,
“Stick to it!”
Wishing
you more of Jesus this Christmas
His peace, His joy, His life
“Go into all the world and preach the
Word of God to everyone, everywhere.”- Mark 16: 15
(616) 846-7926 * sheri@justpatterns.com