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As I was cleaning out a desk drawer recently, I rediscovered an inch thick, clear plastic box holding a Golden Rule Marble. Seeing the milky red orb with its narrow bronze metallic band encircling it my memory connected with the delightful gentleman who gave it to me. Raymond Dault, the chairman of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis’ Department of Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management in 1986, presented all of his students each semester with this marble. He “urged his students to live and serve the public by the Golden Rule.”
Jesse Shwayder, creator of the said marble and founder of Shwayder Trunk Mfg. Co. (Samsonite Corporation), based his company on the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (NLT) The marble’s band has the verse inscribed on it.
Dault also used his own designated “four-letter words” – food, work, give, love and care – to teach his students to focus on making their RHIM career a noble and respected profession.
So, how’s it going for you living by the Golden Rule? Do you want to be spoken to with grace-filled words? Speak them yourself to others. Do you want to be treated with respect and dignity? Model those character traits daily. Are you kind or are you harsh? Are you self-seeking or seeking the best for and in others?
Dault encouraged his students to serve food with care and joy, work diligently, give generously of your time, talent and treasure, love unconditionally, and care exponentially. I confess I can’t check that list off every day but seeing that marble again is a great reminder I have work to do.
And when we live the Golden Rule, and exercise Professor Dault’s four-letter words, we’re bound to live with more joy.
 
With joy,
Susan

For a while, I've wanted to start a blog called "With Joy". While I have been writing for magazines and newspapers for over 35 years, and now a devotional book, I don’t often write from a personal perspective. So, here’s to a new learning curve for me and hopefully enjoyable and authentic prose for you.
 
I remember years ago when I told my parents, Herb and Ruth Krauch, I could clearly see God’s hand orchestrating our lives. While Mom and Dad believed in the Lord, they didn’t accept him as their Savior until their mid-80s. (Thank you, Jesus, for answering prayer!) When Dad finished his master’s degree at Purdue (I was 8 years old) they asked him to move to the West Lafayette campus from Columbia City to be the wildlife extension agent covering the state of Indiana. That move took us to a great subdivision and neighbors, and led us to a fabulous, scripture-centered church, Covenant Presbyterian, with pastors that forever imprinted my life and led me to Jesus. Dad was in his ideal job of teaching and working outdoors and Mom was a natural working in tourism. Growing up surrounded by all things Purdue was pivotal in my education, culture, and worldview.
One of my greatest blessings was living closer to my paternal grandparents in Indy. Spending chunks of my summers traveling with them, Grandpa teaching me to swim, reading a voracious number of Nancy Drew books, and doing crafts with Gram are indelible deposits in my memory bank.
My childhood friends are still some of my best friends and fellow Boiler alumni. The love of higher education was cemented in me, so I worked at IUPUI, then Purdue followed by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. During my year with The Purdue Alumnus magazine (my dream job) I met my husband Terry, a fellow alum, and married him a year later. Never did I ever expect to marry a farmer but here I am 33 years later living surrounded by everything I’m allergic to accept Terry.
Our greatest joys are our daughter, Lillian, her husband, Kegan, granddaughter Kaelynn, grandbaby-to-be in November, and our daughter Hayley. I can’t forget Lilly’s corgis Frederick Winston and Ruby Mae.
I’m forever grateful for the Lord knowing since before he launched creation exactly what he had in store for my family and my future.
Where can you see your story beginning?
 
With joy,
Susan