Kindergarten Teachers 11-7-2002
A kindergarten student is 60 pounds of energy in motion. A class of twenty-five pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students is a ton of explosive energy. A kindergarten teacher is the controller of this energy. She is the calming hand on the quivering mass of students in her room. She has to channel the energy into productive motions. She has to calm the excited voices. She has to quiet the outbursts. Her loving arms gently herd her students into the roads of knowledge. She transforms inarticulate screams into recognizable language. She satisfies curiosity and channels the questions into areas of new knowledge about the world and everything in it. She steps through the doors of opportunity hand-in-hand with her charges. She is a mother, friend, councilor, Grandma, scientist, baby-sitter, gardener, zoo-keeper, custodian, shoe-tier, face-washing disciple of Jesus sharing God’s love by word and deed – daily. Yes, the lessons learned in kindergarten stay with us a lifetime.
It is a very demanding job – physically, mentally and emotionally. The distance to bend to tie a shoe grows greater with age. The playground games become a daily workout – “London Bridge” aerobics if you will. Lines are harder to maintain and quiet is a little known commodity in the kindergarten room. Kindergarten teachers are special.
My wife, Bunny, is a kindergarten teacher. She has taught for 30 years – most of the time in the lower grade levels. She is a great teacher. She adopts each of her students into her heart as one of her own children. Their successes and failures bring tears of joy and sorrow. She wants the best for them – always.
This is an important anniversary week for us. It was one year ago this week that she heard the news that she was facing cancer – again. The year has gone fast. One year ago her cancer count was 42 – very high. A month ago it was 10 – going in the right direction. Her energy level has decreased; she now will give in to an occasional Saturday afternoon nap. Her pain is constant. She gets up and rejoices that she has the opportunity to share Jesus with her classroom of pupils. She gives her pupils the opportunity and tools to open their world beyond all imagination. She delights in hearing them recite letters, read words and draw wonderful crayon pictures. But most of all she rejoices when a child comes up to her and asks, “Can I be baptized?” She weeps tears of joy, as her children become children of God. Yes, I can see angels in heaven rejoicing as I see her face as she witnesses another baptism.
I thank God that I am daily reminded of His grace and mercy as we have another day together. I thank God that she can continue to share her life and her love of Jesus with another class.
I thank God for each of the teachers in all of our churches and schools. Bunny is not unique or special. She is found hundreds of thousands of times over in churches and schools around the nation and around the world. Dedicated, loving, Christian men and women teach children the knowledge of this world and impart the knowledge of the next. Each teacher stands in front of the class with the prayer, “Lord, let them see You through me – today.” Each teacher surrenders his or her personal challenges of life for the good of the class. Each teacher sacrifices for the students. Each teacher would gladly do whatever it takes for another child to succeed. I watch Bunny and I see Sunday school teachers, vacation Bible school teachers, midweek teachers, adult Bible class teachers, and professional church workers all over synod and I rejoice.
It is a very demanding job – physically, mentally and emotionally. The distance to bend to tie a shoe grows greater with age. The playground games become a daily workout – “London Bridge” aerobics if you will. Lines are harder to maintain and quiet is a little known commodity in the kindergarten room. Kindergarten teachers are special.
My wife, Bunny, is a kindergarten teacher. She has taught for 30 years – most of the time in the lower grade levels. She is a great teacher. She adopts each of her students into her heart as one of her own children. Their successes and failures bring tears of joy and sorrow. She wants the best for them – always.
This is an important anniversary week for us. It was one year ago this week that she heard the news that she was facing cancer – again. The year has gone fast. One year ago her cancer count was 42 – very high. A month ago it was 10 – going in the right direction. Her energy level has decreased; she now will give in to an occasional Saturday afternoon nap. Her pain is constant. She gets up and rejoices that she has the opportunity to share Jesus with her classroom of pupils. She gives her pupils the opportunity and tools to open their world beyond all imagination. She delights in hearing them recite letters, read words and draw wonderful crayon pictures. But most of all she rejoices when a child comes up to her and asks, “Can I be baptized?” She weeps tears of joy, as her children become children of God. Yes, I can see angels in heaven rejoicing as I see her face as she witnesses another baptism.
I thank God that I am daily reminded of His grace and mercy as we have another day together. I thank God that she can continue to share her life and her love of Jesus with another class.
I thank God for each of the teachers in all of our churches and schools. Bunny is not unique or special. She is found hundreds of thousands of times over in churches and schools around the nation and around the world. Dedicated, loving, Christian men and women teach children the knowledge of this world and impart the knowledge of the next. Each teacher stands in front of the class with the prayer, “Lord, let them see You through me – today.” Each teacher surrenders his or her personal challenges of life for the good of the class. Each teacher sacrifices for the students. Each teacher would gladly do whatever it takes for another child to succeed. I watch Bunny and I see Sunday school teachers, vacation Bible school teachers, midweek teachers, adult Bible class teachers, and professional church workers all over synod and I rejoice.
You Have Not Because You Ask Not 11-14-2002
Have you ever heard the phrase, “You have not because you ask not?” That phrase came to mind the other day as I was talking with the kids. All of the children will be home for this Thanksgiving celebration. Bunny and I are as happy as can be – this will be the first time we all have been together in a long time. Lots of preparations have begun for the special day. House cleaning, bed assigning and menu planning top the list. House cleaning is as good as it is going to get. Bed assigning will be easy – Bunny and I get a bed, Bob and Lori get a bed (got to pamper the parents of our future grandchild) and Becky, Russell and Rich can fight over the remaining bed or floor or couch – they are old enough to handle it on their own. Menu planning has run into an interesting situation. As Bunny asks each of the children what they would like for Thanksgiving dinner, she is met with, “Whatever.” It wasn’t until she mentioned to one of the children that she would fix only what was requested did it dawn on them that she was serious. When Mom says, “‘Whatever’ is good. I like ‘whatever.’ ‘Whatever’ means I can make reservations instead of dinner,” it gets the kids excited. We heard wails of, “No turkey? No dressing? No stuffing? No mashed potatoes? No corn, green bean casserole, home-made rolls, mincemeat pie, pumpkin pie, olives, real cranberry sauce (the round kind) and no leftovers?” The kids finally got it! They needed to tell their mother what they wanted for the special family dinner. Soon the dinner was planned – I even had to request my favorites of marshmallow-covered yam casserole and real cranberry salad with oranges. She was living out the phrase, “You have not because you ask not.”
This is also the time of year that I start my “Blessings” list. Each Thanksgiving day we go around the table and speak our blessings – those things for which we are especially thankful. I find it useful to start thinking about my blessings early. The other day I was stuck in traffic because of an accident. I had two hours to count blessings. One special blessing I would like to share with you is the opportunity to write this Update. I find that I look at the world around me with different eyes. I now read magazine articles with an eye out for how the information could be shared with the Update people. I hear sermons and read bulletins for ideas to be shared with the Update list. I watch movies and look for ways to apply the lessons to outreach. I feel very blessed that I have this opportunity. It has also been a humbling experience for me. I am in contact with giants of the faith – you. I am in contact with some of the most dedicated disciples of Jesus that I have ever known – you. I am in awe of your zeal for the kingdom. You are very special to me. I count each one of you as a special blessing this year.
This is also the time of year that I start my “Blessings” list. Each Thanksgiving day we go around the table and speak our blessings – those things for which we are especially thankful. I find it useful to start thinking about my blessings early. The other day I was stuck in traffic because of an accident. I had two hours to count blessings. One special blessing I would like to share with you is the opportunity to write this Update. I find that I look at the world around me with different eyes. I now read magazine articles with an eye out for how the information could be shared with the Update people. I hear sermons and read bulletins for ideas to be shared with the Update list. I watch movies and look for ways to apply the lessons to outreach. I feel very blessed that I have this opportunity. It has also been a humbling experience for me. I am in contact with giants of the faith – you. I am in contact with some of the most dedicated disciples of Jesus that I have ever known – you. I am in awe of your zeal for the kingdom. You are very special to me. I count each one of you as a special blessing this year.
Parent / Teacher Conferences 11-21-2002
Parent/Teacher Conferences – the very name induces fear and trembling in the heartiest of souls. Yes, it is Parent/Teacher conference time again. Bunny returned home the other evening from a full day of meeting parents. She started at 7:00 AM and finished after 7:00 PM. She came home and promptly took a nap. It was a tiring day.
For teacher – the day is looked at from the perspective of, “How can I share the good and the not-so-good news about the child to the parent?” More often than not, it is the momma who sits across from the teacher wanting to discover the greatest in her child. Teachers struggle to find just the right balance between good news and not-so-good news. Sometimes the momma reveals a struggle in her life that was previously unknown. The teacher must then switch tack as the reason behind certain behaviors and nonperformance is brought to the surface. Children are very sensitive people. They react to every word, nuance and mannerism from their parent. Children will often internalize conflicts and the result is a drop in grades, acting up in class or unexpected absences. Teachers must be on guard not to judge too harshly when a child exhibits symptoms of a deeper problem.
Sometimes teachers have the pure joy of sharing great news with a parent. Momma will begin to verbalize her feelings that her child certainly is faltering and failing, only to be stopped short by a teacher who can smile, sit back and tell momma, “Your child is doing absolutely great!” I lived for such conferences.
Parents enter the conference with fear of the unknown – what will teacher report about my child? Every parent has sat in the chair to listen to a teacher explain how their child is living a different life in the classroom than what was reported at home. Parents must check their natural instinct to believe their child and try to listen rationally to a teacher. I have not always succeeded in hearing. I too often want to believe my child to the point of ignoring what is told to me. Sometimes I am the parent who can react in genuine surprise as the teacher tells me that my child is doing great! It is ice-cream-cones-around time!
Students always dread the return of the parents from the conference, for they can be rewarded or grounded – for life. Students always know the truth, but somehow hope that their faults will be overlooked – forgiven – wiped clean.
Does that sound familiar? Jesus is the one who wipes our slate clean! We do not live in dread of the conference; rather we look forward to it. We each must face our Father, but we know that when He looks at us, He is looking at us through His Son.
I pray that each of you have a joyous celebration of Thanksgiving and that you continue in your Thanks-living!
For teacher – the day is looked at from the perspective of, “How can I share the good and the not-so-good news about the child to the parent?” More often than not, it is the momma who sits across from the teacher wanting to discover the greatest in her child. Teachers struggle to find just the right balance between good news and not-so-good news. Sometimes the momma reveals a struggle in her life that was previously unknown. The teacher must then switch tack as the reason behind certain behaviors and nonperformance is brought to the surface. Children are very sensitive people. They react to every word, nuance and mannerism from their parent. Children will often internalize conflicts and the result is a drop in grades, acting up in class or unexpected absences. Teachers must be on guard not to judge too harshly when a child exhibits symptoms of a deeper problem.
Sometimes teachers have the pure joy of sharing great news with a parent. Momma will begin to verbalize her feelings that her child certainly is faltering and failing, only to be stopped short by a teacher who can smile, sit back and tell momma, “Your child is doing absolutely great!” I lived for such conferences.
Parents enter the conference with fear of the unknown – what will teacher report about my child? Every parent has sat in the chair to listen to a teacher explain how their child is living a different life in the classroom than what was reported at home. Parents must check their natural instinct to believe their child and try to listen rationally to a teacher. I have not always succeeded in hearing. I too often want to believe my child to the point of ignoring what is told to me. Sometimes I am the parent who can react in genuine surprise as the teacher tells me that my child is doing great! It is ice-cream-cones-around time!
Students always dread the return of the parents from the conference, for they can be rewarded or grounded – for life. Students always know the truth, but somehow hope that their faults will be overlooked – forgiven – wiped clean.
Does that sound familiar? Jesus is the one who wipes our slate clean! We do not live in dread of the conference; rather we look forward to it. We each must face our Father, but we know that when He looks at us, He is looking at us through His Son.
I pray that each of you have a joyous celebration of Thanksgiving and that you continue in your Thanks-living!
