By: Brenda Wilkerson
Captain’s Log ~ I’m a Sucker
I am SUCH a sucker! I don’t know why, but I immediately caved to the timid request of the love-bug butterflies dancing in Gentleman P’s tummy. Gentleman P is a quiet 3rd-grader whose presence is loud even though you don’t ever hear a peep out of him. He is the perfect gentleman rider. He always lets the girls go first and draws me beautiful artwork from time to time. Two days ago, Gentleman P quietly requested a seat change so he could be with a brother/sister friend duo, instead of his little sister and her friend. Requested granted little man! I am usually pleased to grant the requests of my quiet riders. Assuming he wanted to sit with the brother, I put the girls in the other seat across the aisle.
The following morning, Gentleman P again waited to be the last one to unload at the school. He stopped beside my Captain’s chair, and I understood this meant he requested another conversation with the Captain. “What’s up buddy? How do you like the seat change?” Gentleman P bravely spoke, “Could I sit with the sister instead?” Ahhhhhhh, the clouds are beginning to clear. I think there is a crush happening on this ol’ bus. “Sure, buddy, I will change it tomorrow.” And I did. So this afternoon at Gentleman P’s stop, I asked again how he liked his seating arrangement. “She didn’t ride today,” he said with his eyes looking at the floor.” I quietly responded, “I’m so sorry, buddy.” He explained, “She had Good News Club after school…I’ll be fine.” His voice trailed off as he turned and quietly descended down the three big steps to the sidewalk. My. Heart. Broke. Hang in there Gentleman P. Maybe fate will be on your side tomorrow. Until then…
Captain’s Log ~ The Love Bug
Ladies and Gentlemen, the ‘Love Bug,’ the newest unseen visitor on our bus, has bitten early and caused endless giggles, squeals, ‘ewwwwws,’ and many other verbal reactions from my tiny passengers behind me. An ooooey-goooey love note complete with two characters with overly sized, big, fat lips kissing created such a giggly response. The note was passed around and then wadded up so tightly and thrown away thinking it was gone forever…heh, heh. Not today, turkeys! In the silence of my now empty bus, I doubled over as my laughter, like a ping pong ball, echoed within my yellow metal friend. Oh my littles, the Lord knew I needed the therapy of laughter first thing on this morning to help balance the heaviness of this world! I am forever thankful for opportunity to live with, love on, and serve these future leaders in the making.
~Ecclesiastes 3:4 — “There is a time to LAUGH and a time to cry…”
Captain’s Log ~ Heartbreak On Wheels
Somebody told someone that somebody has a crush on someone. Someone freaked out. So, somebody also freaked out thinking that even the friendship between somebody and someone was over which resulted in somebody writing another note to someone who wadded up somebody’s note and threw it in the floor. Bless the elementary hearts entangled in another day of young emotional drama. Everybody sing “Thuuuuuuuu drama on the bus goes round and round, round and round, round and round…” Bless it!
Lord, we are forever grateful that You showed us Your perfect love first so that we can love others well. I pray You gift us the strength and grace to reflect genuine love with others today!
1 John 4:19 — We love because God first loved us.
By: Brenda Wilkerson
January 3, 2025
