On this day in 1964, the movie Mary Poppins began showing in American theaters.

You’ve probably seen the movie Mary Poppins. If not, you should—it’s great fun. The story revolves around a new nanny who arrives to take care of a banker’s children. She helps the children magically explore the world around them, and at the same time she brings the family closer to each other.

In one memorable scene, Mary gets the children to do an unpleasant task by singing, “A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down.” Her point is that difficult jobs can be made easier when we approach them with a good attitude—the “spoonful of sugar.”

It’s true, right? Think about the difference an attitude makes. If you’re in a bad mood, everything is a pain. No matter what we’re asked to do we gripe, complain, whine, and mope. Then the job seems to be twice as difficult and take twice as long as it should.

In contrast, when we’re “up,” feeling good about life, Mom, Dad, coach, teacher, or even a sibling can ask us to do something, and we’ll get right on it—no problem! We have a good feeling of accomplishment when we’re finished.

And here’s the great part—we can choose our attitudes. Even in the worst circumstances, we can choose to look on the bright side, to have a positive spirit. That’s like adding our “spoonful of sugar” to the bad-tasting “medicine” in life.

So, are you positive? Make that choice.

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had (Philippians 2:5).

To Do

For the next 24 hours, choose a positive attitude, no matter what happens or what you’re asked to do.

Also on this day . . .

1892—Pop (Billy) Shriver of the Chicago Cubs caught a ball that was dropped from the top of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

On this day in 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and delivered this speech to more than 250,000. Dr. King had prepared a short talk and was about to sit down when gospel singer Mahalia Jackson called out, “Tell them about your dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!” What followed was his amazing speech.

Dr. King spoke with passion and sincerity: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! . . . I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together . . . . And this will be the day, this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning, ‘My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!’ And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.”

He ended with this stirring proclamation: “And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.’”

Because of Christ, we will be “free at last.” Thank God!

Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don’t need to hope for it (Romans 8:24).

To Do

Go on the Internet and search for this famous speech. You’ll find it under “I Have a Dream.” Then listen to or read the whole speech.

Also on this day . . .

1830—The Tom Thumb was demonstrated in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first passenger train to be built in America.

1907—Two teenagers started the American Messenger Company, which later became United Parcel Service.

1972—Mark Spitz won the first of his seven gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

On this day in 1984, President Ronald Reagan announced that the first citizen to go into space would be a teacher.

Everyone says that teachers are important. We even have “National Teacher Day” (May 7). But when President Reagan announced that the first citizen in space would be a teacher, he was showing the nation that teachers really are special.

Eventually, Christa McAuliffe was chosen. Then, tragically, she died when the Challenger exploded on take-off on January 28, 1986.

Not all teachers are like Christa McAuliffe, who was willing to risk her life on an exploration adventure. But all teachers are involved in a daily adventure as they help students explore nature, history, language, government, faith, mathematics, relationships, art, and many other fields of study.

While teachers are important, they may not always feel special. Some teachers feel that they are not paid enough for the work they do. And their students can treat them very poorly. Teachers may feel overworked and taken for granted. They may feel pressure from both the school administration and from the parents of their students.

Teachers aren’t perfect, of course, and some teach better than others. But all teachers deserve respect and honor. We honor teachers by paying attention in class, by asking good questions, by having a positive attitude, and trying our best to learn, even when it’s hard.

Think where you’d be without teachers, and what you’ve learned in the past. And imagine all the great learning in your future—middle school, high school, college, and graduate school—and the talented teachers who’ll guide you.

Thank God for your teachers. Honor them . . . and, like Christa McAuliffe, reach for the stars.

“Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to those who gave me instruction?” (Proverbs 5:13).

To Do

Even though you may not be in school right now, make a list of your current teachers. Be sure to include your Sunday-school teacher, music teacher, coach, and others. This week, thank each one for doing a great job.

Also on this day . . .

1886—The island volcano of Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted. It was heard over 3,000 miles away and was one of the biggest natural disasters ever.

1908—Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36^th President of the United States, was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

This is Women’s Equality Day.

Many years ago in the United States (and even today in many countries), women didn’t enjoy many of the rights that men had. They couldn’t own property, vote, or have certain jobs. They were almost treated like property. Some couples were sad when their new baby turned out to be a girl. That’s hard to believe, but it’s true.

That’s wrong, of course. Girls and women should have the same rights and opportunities as boys and men, including being paid the same amount for the same kind of work. Because of this, many people protested and worked hard to make the appropriate changes. And, eventually, laws and customs were changed.

Some people seem to think that equality means being the same. But that’s not true. Men and women are equally valuable, but they’re definitely different. The Bible makes this very clear. God created male and female—two distinctly different types of people. Both were special creations of God, made in his image, but they were different. We’re still different.

We can see the obvious physical differences between men and women. Women can have babies and men can’t. But through research scientists are finding even more fascinating differences between the genders; the way male and female brains work, for example. God built in differences that aren’t easy to see, but are important, and help men and women to complement each other. One sex is not better than the other.

So celebrate the differences and the way God made you. And, while you’re at it, respect the opposite sex—they’re special to God, too.

He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human” (Genesis 5:2).

To Do

Take some time and analyze your mom and dad. Write down how they are the same and how they’re different. Be sure to note how they think and feel. Then consider how you are becoming like them. How do you feel about that?

Also on this day . . .

1498—Michelangelo was commissioned to sculpt the Pieta, his famous statue showing Mary holding Jesus’ body after the crucifixion.

1873—The school board of St. Louis, Missouri authorized the first public kindergarten in the United States.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

This is National Kiss-and-Make-up Day.

The expression, “kiss and make up,” usually means that two people who have been arguing have made peace with each other. The argument is over. They’re friends again.

As a dispute or conflict is resolved, the two people don’t actually have to kiss, although that often happens with a husband and wife. Often the two will shake hands, pat each other on the back, hug, or just say, “Hey, that’s OK.” The important thing is that they both mean it when they admit their wrongs and ask for forgiveness.

As you know, people can pretend to feel bad about something they’ve done or said. They may even state, “I’m sorry for doing that” when they really mean, “I’m sorry I got caught.” Some people are so phony that they can smile and be all friendly when inside they are very angry and upset. They may even say, “Don’t worry about it. It’s OK. Let’s get together,” but they’re really thinking, “I never want to see you again!”

Several times over the past few months we’ve discussed honesty. Today’s topic is another way to be honest—in our relationships. When we say something to someone, especially when we “kiss and make up,” we need to be sincere. Otherwise we shouldn’t say it. We shouldn’t pretend to be sorry when we’re not. Instead, we should work to resolve the conflict so we really can heal the relationship.

Today’s verse talks about “genuine affection.” Notice the emphasis on “genuine”—this means being a true friend, not a phony one.

True friends don’t always agree or get along—conflicts arise in any relationship. But true friends say what they mean and mean what they say to each other. They’re honest with each other, not phony.

So look for sincere people to be your friends. And be a genuine friend to them.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other (Romans 12:10).

To Do

Jot a quick note to a good friend, expressing your sincere appreciation for the friendship. Then mail it.

Also on this day . . .

This is National Children’s Day.

1530—Ivan the Terrible, the first tsar of Russia, was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

This is National Waffle Day.

A dictionary might define “waffle” as “a crisp cake of batter baked in a waffle iron.” You’re probably very familiar with that type of waffle. Whether smothered in strawberries and whipped cream or just covered with butter and syrup, a waffle can be a delicious treat. The point of having “National Waffle Day” is to get people to eat more waffles.

But the word has another definition, as a verb: “to avoid committing one’s self, to speak both sides of an issue.” We hear waffle used this way quite often during elections when candidates accuse each other of “waffling” or “flip-flopping.” They certainly aren’t talking about eating crisp cakes of batter, but about not taking a stand on the issues.

Waffling isn’t limited to politicians. Everyone is susceptible—parents, kids, lawyers, doctors, sales people, police officers, mechanics—even Christians. Someone might ask, for example, “What do you think about Jesus?” A waffle answer would sound something like this: “Well, uh, I don’t know, uh, I mean I think he was God but, you know, people have a lot of different ideas . . . I guess I could go either way . . . .”

When it comes to our faith, the Bible tells us to be confident and committed to the truth. Otherwise we will “waver back and forth” (waffle) in everything we do.

When asked about Jesus, we should answer, “He is God and man. He came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. He lives today and is my Savior. I trust in him.” No waffling there!

So on this National Waffle Day, go ahead and eat one . . . but don’t be one.

 . . . A doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do (James 1:6, 8).

To Do

Ask Mom or Dad if you can have waffles sometime this week for breakfast. Then, as you eat, tell your family about the other kind of waffling.

Also on this day . . .

79—Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the town of Pompeii.

1869—Cornelius Swarthout patented the waffle iron.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

On this day in 1982, Gaylord Perry of the Seattle Mariners was ejected from a game for throwing an illegal spitball.

A spitball is an illegal pitch in baseball. When throwing this pitch, the pitcher will put some kind of substance like spit, Vaseline, or something similar, on the ball. This causes the ball to move, making it difficult for a batter to hit.

For many years, spitballs were permitted in baseball’s major leagues. But throwing this pitch was outlawed in 1920. Many pitchers still used the illegal pitch, however, working hard to hide their actions. Every now and then, like on this day in 1982, an umpire will catch a pitcher messing with the ball and toss him out of the game.

In baseball and in other sports, players cheat because they want to win and will do most anything to gain the victory. They know cheating is wrong, but they do it any way, hoping to not get caught. In baseball, a player is permitted to “steal,” as in steal a base. In basketball, it’s OK, and even encouraged, to “fake” (pretend to do one thing but then do something else). Other games and sports have actions that are wrong outside the game but are all right inside the game. But doing something that is not allowed inside the game, even if it wouldn’t be wrong in the rest of life, is cheating. It’s wrong, even if you don’t get caught. Sometimes cheaters win games, but actually they’re losers.

The heat of competition can make cheating very tempting, especially when others do it and when you think you can get away with it. Don’t give in. Instead, be a person who plays the game honestly and fairly, and within the rules. You will be respected, and you will honor God. And if you happen to lose the game, you’re still a winner.

The Lord hates cheating, but he delights in honesty (Proverbs 11:1).

To Do

In your next game, even if it’s just in the park, at summer camp, or in your home, determine to play within the rules.

Also on this day . . .

1838—The first class was graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was one of the first colleges for women.

1913—Automobiles were legally allowed to enter Yosemite National Park, California, for the first time.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

On this day in 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Widely regarded as the most famous painting in history, the “Mona Lisa” was painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1503 to 1506 in Florence, Italy. Featuring the woman with the mysterious smile, the painting is 20 7/8 inches by 30 inches, oil on poplar wood, and resides in The Louvre Museum in Paris, France (unless it has been stolen). Its value is considered to be priceless. No wonder people get upset when the “Mona Lisa” is stolen!

Have you ever wondered why some art is considered valuable while other art is not? What gives something value? The oil, poplar wood, and paint that make up “Mona Lisa” didn’t cost much—so the painting is worth much more than the artist’s materials and tools. Certainly the quality of the art and the identity of the artist have a lot to do with its price.

Do you know that you are priceless, too? You are much more valuable than the chemicals and other ingredients found in your body. You have value because of your Creator. That’s right. The Bible tells us that God created human beings (including you) in his image (Genesis 1:26, 27), that he formed you and watched you before you were born (Psalm 139:13-16), and he continues to work in you, making you more and more like his Son (Romans 8:29).

Get the point? You are priceless—certainly much more valuable than any work of art, even the “Mona Lisa.” It’s as though God has your picture on his refrigerator—he’s so proud of you.

So smile, be confident, and celebrate! You’re something else!

“Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are” (Matthew 6:26).

To Do

Today, look for birds. Every time you see one, remember God’s love and your value . . . and thank him.

Also on this day . . .

1902—In Hartford, Connecticut President Theodore Roosevelt became the first President of the United States to ride in an automobile.

1906—The Victor Talking Machine Company began to manufacture the Victrola record player.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

On this day in 1971, 16-year-old Laura Baugh won the United States Women’s Amateur Golf tournament.

When Laura Baugh won, she was the youngest winner in the history of the tournament. Golf is a crazy sport, isn’t it? Some people play all their lives, taking lessons, practicing diligently, and buying all the best equipment, but never get very good. Yet along comes someone like Laura who wins a major tournament as a teenager.

Golf, like almost no other sport, tests a person’s honesty. That’s because golfers (except in big tournaments) keep their own scores. Typically after everyone putts out at a hole, the person with the scorecard will ask, “What did you get?” And that’s the test. Will the golfer honestly admit that he or she shot a 7? Or will he or she conveniently forget a swing and say 6? And what about when a golfer is standing behind some trees, swings hard, and moves the ball ahead just a couple feet. None of his or her fellow golfers sees the swing—nobody knows! So does he or she count that swing? That’s the test.

God values honesty. Many times in the Bible we read statements like, “The godly are directed by their honesty” (Proverbs 11:5), and “Lord, you are searching for honesty” (Jeremiah 5:3). So it’s no wonder that David asked God to lead him “along the path of honesty” (today’s verse).

You may not play golf, but your honesty can be tested in other ways. Someone may, for example, give you too much change after a purchase. Do you give it back? Or you may be caught in doing something wrong. Do you admit your guilt? Or perhaps you find something valuable in the park. Do you try to find the owner?

Make the right choice. Walk along the path of honesty.

Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the path of honesty . . . (Psalm 27:11).

To Do

For the next few days, be alert for tests of your honesty. Every time you notice one, say this brief prayer: “Thank you, God, for this test. It’s an opportunity to choose to do right.”

Also on this day . . .

1912—Arthur R. Eldred became the first American boy to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

1959—Hawaii became America’s 50^th state.

1984—Victoria Roche, a reserve outfielder, became the first girl ever to compete in a Little League World Series game.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).

On this day in 1833, Benjamin Harrison, the 23^rd President of the United States, was born.

Be honest—before reading the previous sentence, had you ever heard of Benjamin Harrison? If so, it’s probably just a vague memory of something said in a history class. Yet Benjamin Harrison was President of the United States for four years (1889-1893). And he was considered a good President, with a solid foreign policy and no scandals.

This provides a great illustration and learning opportunity.

Check out the verse for today. James is saying that we should realize how quickly time passes and how short our lives really are. Like the morning fog, or as one translation puts it, “a mist,” life is fragile and passes quickly.

That’s hard to understand when we’re young, when a year seems like forever. But the older we get the faster time flies and the years zoom past us. Ask your grandparents.

When Benjamin Harrison won the presidential election, he reached one of the highest points that any American can ever hope for. Yet, just 115 years later, very few people remember him or anything about his life or administration. How quickly we forget. Think about today’s newsmakers—in a year or two we won’t remember them.

Life is short, no matter how long we live. There’s an old saying that you may have seen on a wall plaque: “Only one life, it will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” We should spend our lives living for God and doing what he wants, and not worrying so much about being a big deal in the world.

After all, “this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever” (1 John 2:17).

How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:14).

To Do

Think back over the last year. Can you remember who won last year’s Super Bowl? What about the major news stories? Don’t they seem like old news now? Are the celebrities of last year still popular this year? Think about how things that once seemed important have faded in time. Ask God to help you concentrate on things that have eternal value.

Also on this day . . .

1741—Vitus Jonas Bering of Denmark discovered Alaska.

1882—Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture debuted in Moscow.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).