Note: Yesterday was the last day of school for me. It was a good day. Today is the first day of summer vacation so I thought I’d share this article I wrote a couple of years ago.
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A while back I was trying to remember the names of all my former teachers. I started with my kindergarten teacher. Yep, got it. She couldn’t see any sense in me pretending to be an alligator. Okay, first grade. I was in l-o-v-e with my first grade teacher. I’m blushing a bit. Fifth grade? That guy threw chalk at talkers. Ninety mile per hour fastball. YIKES! There were others, of course, and I came up with most names… except my second grade teacher.
I was seven years old when I was in second grade at South Christian Grade School. My parents worked long and hard at multiple jobs in order for my sisters and I to be able to attend Christian Schools. Christian education was a priority for them. I’m going to guess that my Mom doesn’t remember who taught second grade that year either. I do know that in my Mom and Dad’s eyes that teacher was special. She had the important job of teaching me, their kid. To my parents, her word was ‘gospel.’ If she said I was acting like an alligator… Wait, that was kindergarten… well, whatever the offense, I knew I had better knock it off…
I feel like I should apologize to Mrs. Unknown Teacher for my forgetfulness – if I knew her whereabouts, if she were still alive. If I were in her shoes I would like to be remembered. I’ve heard stories of significant educators that were remembered for some important life changing event in a student’s life.
Chatting with some former students, one told about what she remembered about 6th grade… I waited to hear just what my great influence had been on this young woman. …What she recalled about sixth grade was the day… Mr. Koning wore one blue sock and one black sock! Hmmmmm…. Not what I had in mind.
It’s been some time since I started writing this and I still don’t remember that teacher. I don’t remember much about second grade, period. Seventh grade, I got cut from the basketball team, eighth grade we went to Greenfield Village. Second grade… Milham Park?? I’m just guessing on that. I think everyone went to Milham Park in those days. I guess it’s what I don’t remember that matters here today.
My second grade teacher? I’m sure she was a wonderful person. No doubt she taught me many things. Things I needed to know about God, like love him the most! Love others. Treat them with courtesy and respect. She taught me other things, too, like what I needed to know about God’s world, like birds and words and planets and numbers. Looking back, I don’t remember if she was musical (3rd grade teacher), I’m sure she had the same high standards for my behavior – respect, obedience, honesty. Even though I don’t remember anything about that year doesn’t mean that good Christian education didn’t happen. Hanging by my desk at home is a quote from the “Lord of Rings” that goes, “…yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised…” or in my case unremembered. Matthew 25:40. Says…
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
And that’s the point. God used my Christian teachers to lead, guide, teach me. Each played a role in my life, in my spiritual journey, whether I recognized it or not. So, I say thank-you, teachers, past and present! I thank God for you and the work you do, noticed or not, for his kingdom.
So there I was 15 minutes before the start of school, reviewing the devotional I was going to use for the last day. It was from the Schaap book and based on the closing verses of Revelation. We started the year in Genesis so it makes sense to end in Revelation. I know right! As I’m reading, oh, dear!! I started getting all choked up… just sitting there at my desk. All that stuff about no more pain, sadness and tears when we finally get to be with Jesus, started to get to me… again.
Walk as Children of Light 