Ceramic Ducks

When I was growing up my mom had these set of ceramic ducks outside our front door that she would dress up depending on the season. They wore pilgrim outfits in November, Santa outfits in December… and yes, even ghost costumes in October.

It might be a silly thing to remember because she extensively decorated the house beyond the ducks, but for some reason – friends and family always remembered the ducks. “Are they wearing their sundresses for summer?” A friend would ask me. “Did she sew those little hats herself?” Another friend would ask. The ducks made an impression.

I believe the reason they made an impression is because they were outside the norm of my mom’s usual prim and proper persona. Her benign version of silliness.

A lot of times people try to make an impression by being shocking, brash, or even rude.

Jesus once warned, “that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36.

But nonetheless, we go on anyway posting our quips on social media as if we are not really speaking to human beings and digging around on the web for those “morsels” of gossip as if Proverbs 18:8 doesn’t warn us of the invasion to our inner soul that will happen.

We want to be “in the know,” provocative, shocking. We want to… make an impression.

This fall we have been focusing on social topics, Bible study topics, and Orthodox Saint stories all with a similar theme – to have the courage to stand up for what matters instead of what is provocative. The courage to be grateful instead of complaining. The courage to be wary of the power of the tongue.

Our society is so addicted to “attention” that we tend to lose sight of what is of spiritual value. Believe it or not – this is nothing new. St. Arsenius the Great is believed to have been of good education and good upbringing that to stop himself from the sin of vanity and pride he was believed to have kept a smooth stone under his tongue to learn the discipline of silence. He is credited with these wise words:

“I have often regretted the words I have spoken, but I have never regretted my silence.” St. Arsenius the Great

Before we take out those decorations and start dressing up our “ducks,” (er, houses) we would all do well with some introspection of what we are celebrating and what we could do a little better.

Truthfully, this time of year, I always remember my mom’s ducks and their silly outfits because her ducks invited people to our home. She made an impression by opening up her home in love instead of pushing people away. Perhaps that is what makes all the difference and perhaps that is the introspection we need going into this season.

Enjoy a peak into our Fall and Winter Teen Curriculum Lineup focused on the Reason for the Seasons HERE.