Book Ends

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it. 2 Timothy 3:14

My heart is so full right now I can hardly type!  Today I got to be the book ends to the school journey of some truly amazing young men and women.  Today I got to see a group of students who were my very first class of 1st graders graduate from high school. The best part was that they invited me to be the speaker at their graduation and it was so much fun talking with my first group of little lovelies on this landmark day.  I was asked to give a speech but instead I climbed down from the stage to stand on the field house floor and teach one last lesson to my graduate lovelies!

I spoke today on behalf of an entire community of teachers, bus drivers, school cooks, custodians, parents and grandparents who have invested in these kids for the last 12 years.  I got to wish them well, offer some lessons on how to be an amazing human and invite them to be the catalyst for change in this world.  In our small community these kids are known by name and they are prayed for and encouraged all along their way.  I watched them walk across the stage right in front of me to get their diploma and I saw little backpacks and wide eyed first graders in my mind.  It all zoomed by so fast that I felt a catch in my breath wondering if we had taught them all they need to know.  I wondered if I did all I could to prepare them to make this world a better place.  I prayed I had used well each opportunity I’d been given to help them grow in discipleship.

As I climbed down the steps to be closer to the kids for our last lesson, I remembered the first day they walked into my classroom and I’m pretty sure I was as scared then as I was today.  I hoped I could cover my nervous voice and hold back the tears that stung behind my eyes.  I hoped that the Holy Spirit would speak through me with the words he wanted them to hear.  I felt the weight of responsibility that every teacher feels when they are given a classroom of young people.  After the first couple of minutes I began to see their smiles and hear their laughter and every emotion bounding through my  mind and my heart was replaced with hope and gratitude.  They will do great thing, they will go great places and they will be amazing people!  I have great hope that they will use their God given gifts and talents to make the world better.  I’m grateful that I had a chance to be a part of their life, a part of their day, a part of their journey to this milestone. I’m grateful to be a teacher, it’s a vocation that reaps rewards that are too many to measure.  Mostly I’m grateful that I landed here…in this place…in this community…to do this work.  God is so good!

If the PW class of 2018 takes only one thing from todays lesson with them into the world I hope it’s the reminder that changing the world requires three simple things.  Be kind, be honest and be grateful.  When I give it some thought, that’s probably a great lesson for all of us!

A Seed To Plant:  Which of the three things will you focus on today…kind, honest or grateful?

Blessings on your day!