Throughout my 30 years of life there has been countless number of people who have sculpted me and had an impact on the man I am today. One of these courageous people to take on a project like myself was Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown has been in the education system for quite sometime. She worked at Sky View when my mom was in school there and later taught first grade at Lucy Elementary. Ms. Brown's husband Mr. Bill was a retired railroad man and both lived down the street from us in Lucy.
We became really good friends with the Browns. We would always go over to there house in the summer and play. Mr. Brown had a room in the house that had a pool table and pinball machines. The only other place that had pinball machines then was Mazzio's but we'll save that for a later article. Every Halloween we always made an effort to trick-or-treat at the Browns because we always received candied apples and caramel popcorn. They attended most of the community events we did as well as attended First Baptist with us every Sunday.
Up until my first grade year at Lucy Elementary I only associated Ms. Brown with pinball machines and caramel popcorn. Then I got to know her on a full term basis when she became my first grade teacher. First grade was a memorable year for me and this sweet lady got to experience every step of it with me. This was the year that I started to lose several of my baby teeth. Ms. Brown had a chart that showed what students had lost teeth as a mile marker into our childhood. This was the year when we were all gathered into the cafeteria to watch the space shuttle Challenger make its historic voyage on live TV but sadly exploded upon liftoff. I remember the class being full of questions of what we'd just seen and Ms. Brown calmly explaining to us how God allows things to happen to fulfill a greater plan. Now don't think that just because Ms. Brown and I were friends that she let me off when I acted up. I remember pulling the chair out from underneath my friend Justin and he fell to the floor. I was sent to the principle's office for that one. She was also one of the first to notice my A.D.D. kicking in around April and I would be in la la land until the last day of school. Of course back then we weren't administered medication for this we were administered the concept of "work harder or get left behind".
Six years later my little brother also had Ms. Brown as his first grade teacher. Will would always miss his family during school so mom gave him a picture of all of us to carry around. One day they were on a bathroom break and he was carrying that picture around with him, and Ms. Brown asked him "Will, do you want me to hold your picture for you while you go to the restroom". With typical Childress fashion Will responded "No maim' Ms. Brown I have an extra hand".
Later on when I was in high school and involved in choirs I had the pleasure of singing a duet with Ms. Brown in our churches Christmas play. We walked down the aisle singing "Walking in a Winter Wonderland". My most memorable memory of Ms. Brown wasn't at her house in the summer or any of my first grade experiences, but my senior year at Millington. I received a graduation present from her that made my heart skip a beat when I opened it. She had saved a letter I had written when I was in first grade on the old wide rule paper that read "I luv Ms. Brown. I luv to read and write. I like dogs to." It wasn't a master piece but the fact that she had saved that letter for twelve years and presented it to me at my graduation was one of the greatest gifts I've ever received. I am blessed to have people like Ms. Brown in my life, and I'm sure you have your Ms. Browns to. Let them know how much you love and appreciate everything they've ever done for you.
-Steve Childress
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A Firefighter's Christmas
Growing up we didn't have a routine Christmas tradition with the immediate family due to my dad's work schedule. My dad has been a City of Memphis Firefighter for nearly 26 years now. Having a firefighter as a dad was pretty much like having a whole other family. There's a sense of camaraderie with firefighters where we all knew each other and kept up with each others families. My dad not only loves his job but has developed a real passion for helping others through the fire department.
If you are unfamiliar with a firefighters schedule I will enlighten you. A typical firefighter will work 24hrs on and 24hrs off for 4 consecutive days then have 4 consecutive days off. So planning holidays around this kind of schedule was never really difficult as long as everyone was flexible to understand the reasons behind it.
There have been many a Christmas mourn when mom and dad would wake my brother and me up at 4:00 in the mourning so we can celebrate Christmas as a family before dad had to leave for the station at 6:00am. My brother and I never had a problem with this because number one, we get to see what Santa brought us, and number two we knew Christmas without dad wouldn't be complete. It was a little painful however when dad was getting off work on Christmas day and we had to wait till he got home at 8:00am to open presents. Still the same principles applied.
As my brother and I got older and moved into different stages of life dad did as well by following a tradition of veteran leadership with in the fire department. Dad started covering morning shifts for the younger firefighters with young kids so they can enjoy their family Christmas. I admire that in a firefighter and I especially know these younger privates appreciate it as well. My dad always made plenty of time for his family given his profession. I can honestly say that my dad has always been there for me. The sacrifices my family made to be together when I was child made such an impact on me that I have adopted the same to spend every moment I can with my young family.
This Christmas I want you to think about your local firefighters and police as they serve and protect so you can enjoy your family Christmas. One of the benefits working on Christmas day at the fire department was the out pouring of the community bringing small gifts and food to their local stations. When family couldn't be present, the community was.
Merry Christmas,
-Steve Childress
If you are unfamiliar with a firefighters schedule I will enlighten you. A typical firefighter will work 24hrs on and 24hrs off for 4 consecutive days then have 4 consecutive days off. So planning holidays around this kind of schedule was never really difficult as long as everyone was flexible to understand the reasons behind it.
There have been many a Christmas mourn when mom and dad would wake my brother and me up at 4:00 in the mourning so we can celebrate Christmas as a family before dad had to leave for the station at 6:00am. My brother and I never had a problem with this because number one, we get to see what Santa brought us, and number two we knew Christmas without dad wouldn't be complete. It was a little painful however when dad was getting off work on Christmas day and we had to wait till he got home at 8:00am to open presents. Still the same principles applied.
As my brother and I got older and moved into different stages of life dad did as well by following a tradition of veteran leadership with in the fire department. Dad started covering morning shifts for the younger firefighters with young kids so they can enjoy their family Christmas. I admire that in a firefighter and I especially know these younger privates appreciate it as well. My dad always made plenty of time for his family given his profession. I can honestly say that my dad has always been there for me. The sacrifices my family made to be together when I was child made such an impact on me that I have adopted the same to spend every moment I can with my young family.
This Christmas I want you to think about your local firefighters and police as they serve and protect so you can enjoy your family Christmas. One of the benefits working on Christmas day at the fire department was the out pouring of the community bringing small gifts and food to their local stations. When family couldn't be present, the community was.
Merry Christmas,
-Steve Childress
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Emmanuel, God with Us
This is a special article for me ,but bare with me as I stray from the norm and discuss what is truly important to me this season. Christmas has a meaning for every person. Christmas can mean a time with family, childhood magic, Santa Clause, and presents. It can also bring grief in the loss of a loved one, stress of providing a Christmas for your kids, debt, and in a lot of cases loneliness. I want to take advantage of this platform I've been given and simply share the "True Meaning" of Christmas. The best way I can tell this story is straight from the book of Luke.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest." NIV Luke 2:1-14
Max Lucado directed a movie called "The Christmas Child" that had one of the best meanings of Christmas I had ever heard. Every year at this time we gather as friends and family. We remember who we are, what we have, and what we've lost. Christmas is so much more than a touching story or some nostalgic holiday fairy tale. It is in fact a reminder of the most amazing reality. That God came, and God spoke. Peace on earth God is with us. And the God who spoke still speaks and the God who came still comes. This is the true miracle of Christmas. As we go through this real world and our real lives full of problems and questions, past hurts, and future hopes. God is with us.
God is with you. He is the hope you are looking for. God sent his son Jesus so that we might be forgiven for our sins and by accepting Him and believing that He came, He died, and He rose again you can have a place in heaven for all eternity. I can't imagine heaven without you. Will you accept God's gift today?
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest." NIV Luke 2:1-14
Max Lucado directed a movie called "The Christmas Child" that had one of the best meanings of Christmas I had ever heard. Every year at this time we gather as friends and family. We remember who we are, what we have, and what we've lost. Christmas is so much more than a touching story or some nostalgic holiday fairy tale. It is in fact a reminder of the most amazing reality. That God came, and God spoke. Peace on earth God is with us. And the God who spoke still speaks and the God who came still comes. This is the true miracle of Christmas. As we go through this real world and our real lives full of problems and questions, past hurts, and future hopes. God is with us.
God is with you. He is the hope you are looking for. God sent his son Jesus so that we might be forgiven for our sins and by accepting Him and believing that He came, He died, and He rose again you can have a place in heaven for all eternity. I can't imagine heaven without you. Will you accept God's gift today?
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