Inspire, Fall 2003

24 Fall 2003 Marilyn Van De Venne ’63 has come to define retirement as a time of relaxation, a time of reflection on the accomplishments of the past, and a time full of opportunity to serve God in new and challenging ways. She offers suggestions for how retirees can stay involved in serving others. My Times Are In Your Hands By Marilyn Van De Venne It seems like only yesterday You led me to attend college To become an elementary school teacher. College days came and went Classes were challenging in preparation Soon student teaching arrived Then I was ready for the world of teaching. You led me to the school of your choice Where I would spend many happy years Teaching and molding young lives Getting them ready for the future. Now the time has come To leave the hallowed halls of learning Allowing others to carry on the torch Of preparing the new generations to come. Lead me into the future Give me new avenues to serve you That I might be found faithful Until you call me home. As a single woman called to be a teacher, my life revolved around my classroom, my students, and my church. Yet, after 36 years of teaching fifth grade, I felt that it was time to retire. I wondered how I would cope without teaching. Following the beginning of my retirement, I dreaded the first day of the next new school year. I wondered what God had in store for me. I needn’t have been worried though, for my God had it all planned. Three years into my retirement, I have found that the retired life is full of avenues of opportunity. I sometimes take dinner to my fellow teachers on the evenings of their parent-teacher conferences. Every once in a while I take snacks into the teachers’ lounge to make their day go better. Even though I always thought I would not want to substitute when I retired, my district was in desperate need of subs, so I volunteered. Subbing has kept me up-to-date on what is happening in education and has let me provide service to my community. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I have been able to do these past three years. In my first year of retirement, I added activities to my schedule such as becoming a listener for those in need of a listening ear, taking on more responsibilities in my church, transporting friends to doctor’s appointments, and helping our school librarian, who was battling cancer. I became a volunteer field staff member of Christian Educator’s Association International (CEAI). At a CEAI convention, I had a blessed time sharing the things God had shown me I could do for the teaching staff I left behind. I have also found myself able to serve those with health problems. I found myself making daily trips to visit my sister-in-law in the hospital. As her health deteriorated, leading to her homegoing, I also supported and comforted my brother. I flew to Alabama to stay with a friend and help out while her husband was recovering from hip replacement surgery. Two weeks into my stay a phone call came — my brother had to have quadruple bypass surgery. After making sure my friend and her husband were settled in, I flew home to care for my brother. After a lengthy stay in the hospital, my brother spent several months in my home recuperating. I may wonder what is in store for me, but my Heavenly Father knows and makes life worthwhile. What a wonderful life He has given me. I can see His leading, and I find that retirement is a new adventure full of daily surprises and challenges. As you contemplate retirement and all it may have to offer, I have some suggestions that may help you in that transition and give you the opportunity to be a testimony to our Savior as well. Here are some ways to get involved in a local school, your church, or community: 1. Take a treat to the teachers’ lounge periodically to brighten the staff ’s day. If the lounge is a dreary room, perhaps you could decorate it seasonally. 2. Volunteer in a classroom to grade papers, decorate bulletin boards, or do whatever the teacher is overwhelmed with at the time. 3. If you were a teacher, volunteer to mentor a new teacher. You have many years of valuable service to help the fledgling teacher. (Check with the principal first. I am sure he or she would be pleasantly surprised at your offer.) 4. Take time to listen to someone and his or her problems. Pray for the person and his or her issues. Finding Blessings in Retirement B y M a r i l y n V a n D e V e n n e ’ 6 3