All the many years that I spent as an educator; every summer I always felt like the empty school building was equivalent to a ghost town. The lights turned down low or even off in most of the building. The only sounds are from the custodial crew; the hum of the vacuum cleaners and music from their radios. The bright colors on the walls and bulletin boards have given way to the drab dull gray. But the most important missing ingredient was the students and the teachers. In other words LIFE was missing from the building. Even during the year if I stayed late to complete grades or lesson plans it never felt like a ghost town only in the summer.
This is the time of year when those summer ‘ghost town’ school buildings return to life. The kids and the teachers once again walk the halls, sit in the chairs, write on the boards, and eat in the cafeteria. All is well…LIFE has returned. The voices of children learning to read, discovering the joy of books, will always warm my heart with fond memories. The voices of children singing, laughing, playing is a reminder to me that we are called to be like little children. Jesus said, ”Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
In Mark 10:15, “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
And again in Luke 18:17 we have almost the exact words cautioning and instructing us to be like a child inorder to enter the kingdom of God.
What exactly are the childlike characteristics Jesus is talking about in these verses?
During my many years of teaching first graders I was blessed to be in the presence of these very characteristics. Children, for the most part, are open, receptive, trustful, and loving. The very ways, I believe, we are called to be inorder to enter the kingdom of God.
I believe that we can all be inspired to a more fulfilling relationship with God if we spend some time with small children. Just observe how they live with joy and abandonment. I believe one challenge we have as adults is to find a way to live in joy. To remain open, receptive, and trustful of our heavenly father until the day comes when we can enter into the kingdom should be our prayer.
Teachers try the best they can to preserve the child’s love of life…the joy.
I would like to share with you a wonderful and inspiring video about children and their teachers. I hope you will take the time to enjoy it and in the process remember a teacher who nurtured your joy of life. Leave us a message about that special teacher. Here’s to all the teachers!!! Live the Joy!!!
\”Believe\”
Blessings, Sharon
Make it a Lemonade Day!
Squeeze out every drop of flavor!
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