All posts by Sarah Patten

When Moses Met Zipporah

“Where ever there’s water, there’s people,” says my biblical lands instructor during each lesson.

So, of course, the well is a popular place. It’s a great place to meet people!

It was somewhat romantic when Jacob met Rachel at the well. He knew she was the one he was looking for, and he helped water the sheep, gave her a kiss, and then she ran to her dad.

Zipporah (a.k.a. Tzipora or Sephora), and Moses had a similar experience, but a little different…

So Moses had been on the run because Egypt’s leader found out Moses had killed an Egyptian who had been attacking a fellow Hebrew. To quote Moses’ flight:

Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

[How long Moses had been in Midian, I don’t know. Maybe he knew a few people before the following incident.]

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.

And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

I think I can speak for many women when I say guys helping and caring for animals are very attractive! The perfect gentleman who’s good with animals. Can’t get much better than that!

Let’s check out some of Hollywood’s famous dramatizations of that famous “meeting.”

The Ten Commandments:

Well, in the both the movie and Exodus account, there were seven daughters, a well, sheep, and bad guys…I think that’s what the movie got right. Even though I’m not too sure if the girls flirted with him, I do love the heroic music and observation comments!

The Prince of Egypt:

Huh…four daughters shown. I wonder where the other three are hiding. But the film does feature a well, sheep, and bad guys. This encounter in the film is Moses and Zipporah’s second meeting, which isn’t accurate. But there is a possibility he liked her, but let’s get back to the scriptural text about what the daughters did after Moses helped them:

And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

I find the daughters’ father hilarious. His daughters were just being cautious. I can imagine that the daughters were caught off guard and awkwardly said they had to go after the chores was done.

It’s the type of thing I would do. My dad has reacted similarly. One example was when a cute guy (I knew already) asked to give me a ride. I said no. When I told my dad about it, he said, “You should have said yes!”

Reuel (referred to as Jethro later in the text) and Moses hit it off.

And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Darn, no details of Moses and Zipporah’s courtship. I agree with the rabbis when they said as Jethro got to know Moses, he approved of Moses. The “eat break” line (I used the King James Version of the Bible) is translated in other versions as “break bread.” “Break bread” might be a hint to Moses that he’d marry one of Jethro’s daughters. Zipporah might have heard this and made a plan to get Moses. Or Moses noticed her good qualities and went after her.

Or maybe the two fell in love through a song…to end this post, let’s watch The Prince of Egypt’s, “Through Heaven’s Eyes.”

More to come about Zipporah and Moses!

P.S. The Hebrew slaves didn’t build the pyramids. That’s what my biblical lands teacher told me.

Featured image: Moses and his Ethiopian wife Zipporah by Jacob Jordaens. Public domain.

I don’t own the videos or movies.

I want to find a nice guy like Moses though.

Amy Coney Barrett, the Teacher

After President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, was announced, of course there was panic. Would this nominee qualify for the Supreme Court? Who was she?

I did some research and found the ACB was fantastic in whatever she did. She was currently serving as a circuit judge, and what stood out to many was that she’s a mother of seven.

Would the Confirmation Hearings Be Hell?

Before the confirmation hearings I was in a panic because I wondered how the Senate would treat her. Would the same senators who trashed Justice Kavanaugh also put her through hell? Looking at the picture of her walking beside President Trump and her family following, she looked confident. I was still anxious about what her treatment would be.

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In her opening remarks at the confirmation hearing she gave a quick lesson that as a judge she was there to interpret the law. She paid tribute to some women that had been on the Supreme Court, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whom she called a trail blazer.

As the hearings moved along, it soon became clear that ACB was focused and confident in her answers. No one will ever forget the moment she held up a blank notepad after being asked to show her notes.

Amy Coney Barrett also shined as a teacher. Multiple judges have taught law at a university level like her. The world caught glimpses of her past teaching experiences as well as witnessing her teach lessons to the Senate.

Teachers and Mentors

Amy Coney Barrett is a Notre Dame Law School alum and took part a conversation hosted by the school. (See “A conversation with Judge Amy Coney Barrett…” video for full conversation). She said one reason she had chosen to attend Notre Dame was because she hoped she’d be motivated by others to become a better person. She went on to become a professor, judge, and boss, and carried that same hope for her clerks and hoped they would have positive experiences.

Barrett stressed the importance of having good mentors. She raved about an English professor that had taken time out to encourage her. Barrett concluded that mentoring is:

“Taking the time to reach out to someone.”

ACB has striven to be a good mentor herself. She said:

 “I’ve long had a responsibility as a teacher to be a mentor.”

Keep in mind this conversation was posted August 2019.  A little more than a year later (during her confirmation hearing), one of her past students gave an example that showed the type of mentor Amy Coney Barrett had been from her personal experience:

Getting Questioned

My worry about certain senators attacking her came true. Whether it was sneaky or obvious, she heard them out. Man, was she patient! She didn’t react as they spouted off their narratives. One time when Senator (and VP candidate) Kamala Harris questioned and she started to answer, Harris said, “Let me finish if you don’t mind.” When Barrett said, “Oh, I’m so sorry,” that was really nice and powerful. When given the opportunity, she answered the questions with conviction.

I still don’t know how Barrett could be so poised and essentially remind senators she was there to evaluate the law and not make it. (I recommend anyone who’s wondering the roles of government branches to go to United States’ government website and read about the three branches here.)

After Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, she again reminded that she there to help interpret the law.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali @Ayaan tweeted:

“If I were teaching a course with an introduction to the concept of the separation of powers, I would begin with this speech. Articulate, crystal clear and consequential.” She included the following video:

The Future Is Actually Bright

Who knows what the upcoming days will be like, but if the world has understanding teachers (not necessarily professional), the future is bright.

Amy Coney Barrett is a great teacher/mentor. This last month, we witnessed her teaching the senate.  She was teaching when she listened to questions. Her concise answers were great lessons in manners and how to express yourself appropriately. In her remarks at the swearing-in ceremony, she demonstrated the importance of reviewing concepts for those still learning.

She inspires me to be a better teacher and student.

The Royal Stuart Men and Their Wives

Two brothers.

The elder married a queen in the making. The other married mistress material.

Their great-great-great…great grandpa, Charles II, wouldn’t have missed the irony. What is he thinking now?

Charles married a woman named Catherine. The elder brother married a woman named Catherine. I think that would have pleased Charles II’s queen.

Among Charles II girlfriends was an actress. The younger brother married an actress. Are Charles’ mistresses doing a victory dance? Only time will tell on that one, I’m afraid.

How much family/secular history do the brothers know? Did anyone see the coincidence when an actress married into the royal family? Come on, princes, you should have made some connection.

I just really, really know what everyone mentioned knows and feels!

 

After September 11, 2001

Rumors swirled at school, home, and on the news.

The daughter of my adopted grandma was listening to the radio as she drove back from the airport. She turned right around as soon as she heard about terrorist activity and picked up her mom and aunt. The girl trip was delayed a week or so.

My friend had one of the worse birthdays ever because everyone came to school sad.

Rearrangements and changes were made on the Madonna tour. One concert’s proceeds went to the 9/11 relief efforts.

My family worried about my brother who was serving his mission at the time in New England. My dad remembers it was around three weeks before we received a letter from him. (Snail mail was the key way missionaries would contact their families weekly—quite different now!) It makes sense that the mail was checked thoroughly though. A few months later, the wife of his mission president told my parents that nearly immediately after, people were attending church. Unfortunately, as time went on, church attendance decreased.

On May 2, 2011, United States Navy SEALS shot bin Laden’s in his compound is Pakistan. It was glorious news.

Terrorism still continues, and sadly, some U.S. government officials and media outlets are removing the blame from those responsible.

However, there are still proud Americans who won’t forget. I never will. I also want to take time to thank America’s military for their service. Words can’t express my gratitude.

And to those who have their birthdays in September, you are very special. You are a symbol of hope and life.

Let us all seek peace but be ready to defend ourselves against evil.

September 11, 2001

The first thing I remember about that day was wrapping up family scripture study before 6 AM. We prayed and less than forty-five minutes later, I was at the church building for early morning seminary. I remember the bishops walking through the halls. I had no idea what was happening. The seminary teacher told us about the planes striking the tower. The rest of the class seem to get it, but I admit I didn’t even know what towers they were talking about. I never heard of the World Trade Center before.

At school, the TVs were on all day. I don’t remember as much cover about the attack on the Pentagon or the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. I would find out more that day (and of course years to follow.) There was an assembly that day. It had been planned in advance with a great motivational speaker. He included what the nation was facing and was sensitive to the day’s events.

The Young Women’s activity that night was volleyball in the backyard of a leader’s house. When my dad picked me up, he was listening to the radio, and it was the first time I heard of Osama bin Laden. My dad said, “This is who they think did it.”

And of course it was. I learned so much about the evil organizations that year. I was sheltered naturally, but I think a lot of people were learning too. No matter what you think of him, President Bush did inspire me with the confidence that we would get bin Laden.

I am so grateful for the 9/11 heroes and those that are protecting the United States. I pray today we will be safe.

September 10, 2001

Eighteen years ago. Monday night. I think I was wearing my pink flowered shirt from the GAP. Or maybe it was the blue polo one. Life was so-so to me. My family spent home evening at our adopted grandma’s house. Her sister had been visiting for quite sometime, and they were both giddy because they were flying out to the Midwest the next morning. My adopted grandma’s daughter was to drive them to the airport.

My cousin was planning to see Madonna in concert later in the month. My friend’s birthday was Wednesday. I knew many people who had plans. While the world turned off their lights and went to bed Monday night, not too many knew there others that had very big and beyond terrible plans.

I went to bed naïve. I had no clue people could be as evil as I was soon to discover. I also didn’t know that there would be many heroes who would fight for America and do whatever they could to save innocent lives.

How Americans Can Show Respect to America

The typical child does not have enough resources to live on their own. The professional athlete on TV can have millions. It’s interesting that some athletes (you know who you are) with all their money can’t show a small tribute to the their country while children with nothing can afford to give attention to words that make the America so wonderful.

I’m not totally sure why some Americans refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance and also dismiss our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. Maybe they can’t remember the words. So let’s go over some of the basics.

The Pledge of Allegiance
[stand and place your right hand over your heart]

I pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.

The Star-Spangled Banner
[stand and place your right hand over your heart]

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

I was fortunate to go to public schools that said the Pledge of Allegiance every day. One school I worked at not only said the Pledge daily, but also sang The Star-Spangled Banner. I would get a little teary-eyed.

I suggest to anyone who has issues with the Pledge of Allegiance and The Star-Spangled Banner to review the words. We shall go over their backgrounds in a future post, but let’s just say that America has survived hard times thanks to God’s help and the brave men and women who fought for the United States of America.  

To Two Royals

Dear Duke and Duchess,

I usually don’t write about this sort of thing, but some of your recent comments and actions haven’t sat well with me.

I know you want two children max due to climate change—but I say hogwash. Do you think, Your Highnesses, that you’re preventing less damage by having less children? Actually less damage can occur if there are more people. Of course, you have to love people. People hold more value than things.

I’m not saying you should continue to have kids. That’s a spiritual and personal matter between yourselves and the Lord. What I am saying is that it’s important to realize the worth of individuals and be more welcoming to others who come to earth—and those who should be closest to you.

I also want to quote the psalm: “Children are a heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3).

Whatever you chose, Your Highnesses, I hope you’ll be able to see the importance of families—especially your present families. Our loved ones are far more important than expensive trips and glamour.

Sincerely,

A Concerned American

Photo from pixabay.com

Why My Grandma Liked Dolls

A neighbor interviewed my grandma and recorded it. The recording is super valuable to my family. You can hear little kids in the background, but the focus was on Grandma. She died before Toy Story, but she had her own storyline.

In the interview, Grandma explains how she and her family managed to get by through hard work, sacrifice, and faith. The family wasn’t able to go on a toy shopping spree. There were, however, miracles that provided treasure for her and her siblings.

Here’s a transcript of an insightful clip:

“My father used to move furniture, and a lot of times, the people say, ‘Oh, take this. I don’t want it. It just makes more stuff here.’ And he used to bring home toys. [“Aw” from interviewer.] And I always remember that big doll I had. You know, those big…the Germans used to make those nice, nice dolls. That’s why to this day, I like dolls.”

And boy, did we all know that! She had a glass cupboard with a collection of dolls. She mentioned it in the video, and how the “girls” (me and my sister) liked to open it. She planned to give us the collection after she passed away. There were moves and remodeling, but I managed to find one of the dolls. It’s the most adorable out of the “pretty dolls” (aka porcelain dolls). A little one that wears a yellow dress and cap. I’m looking at it right now. Some might look at it and feel nothing, but I feel really blessed. It has a story behind it. It’s a reminder of Grandma’s love. 

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Images:

Featured image: Girl With Doll by an unknown German artist. Found on Wikipedia commons.

Other painting found on pixabay.com

An Angel and Barbie Friends

Watching the end of Toy Story 4 made me cry in the theater. The ending stuck with me as I drove home. Then I thought of my past toy experience, and the tears kept coming.

I was a lucky girl in fourth grade. I had good friends and a loving home. But as soon as I think of fourth grade, I think of Mrs. G. She embarrassed me a lot in front of the whole class. I also think of the bullies at my table—Mac, Ash, and Drew. They were real devils. Okay, I’m being dramatic, but school can be quite scary. Fortunately, an angel called Ms. Ward intervened.

I’m sure she was heaven sent. I saw her at church. She gave my family games one Christmas. Once, my sister and I lent her our Barbie dolls so she could make clothes for her nieces’ Barbies. But we were in for a real shock when she returned the dolls—they had a dazzling new wardrobe! The clothes were funky, beautiful, and classic with rich fabric. I don’t totally remember what the clothes looked liked, but I was motivated to play with my Barbies probably because they were better-dressed. I was happy—and nervous. From time to time, I’d stand up and walk to the window. I had to make sure no one from my class was nearby. Who knows? Maybe they could have jumped the fence. Luckily, they were never there, and I could play Barbies to my heart’s content.

This respite was some of the greatest therapy I ever received. I sorted through my problems and got out my frustrations. God bless Ms. Ward wherever she is. I know she was divinely inspired.

And if you’re reading this, Ms. Ward, please know you saved me. I don’t know if I ever said thank you. Thank you to infinity and…well, you know. Thank you for being the Lord’s instrument in helping a nine-year-old girl conquer the fourth grade villains.

Lots of love,
Sarah, now age 33

Some names have been modified.
Picture from pixabay.com