As Sarah's school year came to an end, her teacher sent home one of the most beautiful letters I have ever read. It brought me to tears. And it made me so proud to know that this teacher that I have admired and respected all year long is a fellow Christian. I mean, it's not something you really talk about at Open House or PTA meetings or classroom parties. But it was evident in the letter she sent to the parents. I thank God for her influence and I pray that my children's lives would be filled with more godly teachers like her throughout their years in school. I want to share a portion of her letter because it has such a good message for all parents...
"I have really grown to love these kids! They have made me laugh and they have made me cry! I have hugged them and praised them. I have fussed at them when they've needed it. I have counseled them and encouraged them....but more than all of that, I have prayed for them...My greatest hope for them is that they will grow up to make a difference in this world. They don't have to be rich or famous to be successful. If they can just make this world a little better simply because they were here, then they will have been a tremendous success. If they can learn to see others, not for their differences, but for their uniqueness and talents, then they will learn that each one of us has something to offer in this life.
I hope that I have done a good job teaching the kids the skills they will need for fifth grade. But, the most important thing that I hope they have learned from me is to respect each other and to treat each other with kindness. Life is just too short not to look for the good in others and in life in general. Please continue to help them to be happy. Happiness is something that is learned. We have to teach our children how to deal with this life and to find happiness in each day.
The next few years will be trying years. Some of you already know that from having older children. They will try your patience and push the limits. Keep parenting and talking. Keep listening too. Know who their friends are and stay involved. Please take the time to be with them before it's too late. You will blink, and they'll be grown! We'll all have regrets and wish we could have done some things differently. Just make sure those regrets are minor ones. You won't get the chance to parent this young child but once. Keep teaching them self control and respecy by modeling it for them. YOU are their greatest teacher!
...I strongly feel that God puts us together for a reason. I am so grateful that God put your child with me..." ~M. Breeden
The first time I read this letter I was stopped dead in my tracks when I got to the part where she said "...more than that, I have prayed for them." I have learned that praying is one of the most important things we can do for our children. It's more important than showering them with expensive gifts, buying them clothes with designer labels, or giving in to their every whim to "make them happy". There is far more power in prayer than in doing any of those other things. I highly recommend the book The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian. It gives you so many ideas of things to pray about that perhaps you had never even considered. It will open your eyes to all the things in their lives that you do need to cover in prayer. You can pray for little things and for very big things and God will blow you away with His responses. The first time you see God answer you will wonder why in the world you didn't start sooner. I could talk for days on this topic! I've already shared with you numerous times, God has blessed me and my family with SO many answers to prayer, it leaves me in awe.
Why don't you start today to commit to really praying for your children? Start by writing down your biggest concerns for each child and tell God about them. Ask Him to show you how to pray for them. Another idea...when you've made your list of concerns for each child, open up your bible to its concordance and look for scripture to help guide your prayers. For example, if your child is lying, see what you can find under the words lie, honesty, deceitfulness, etc and then go to the scripture it references. I found this: For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." (1 Peter 3:10) So I could pray "God, because I want my child to love life and see good days, please help him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech." And then take it a step further and explain to your child "This is what the bible--God's Word--says to us about lying." And explain the verse. I think it is so important to do that instead of just saying to your child "Don't lie. It's not nice." And don't underestimate what your child is capable of understanding. Find short bible verses and start teaching them to your child as well. Remember the note from my child's teacher to the parents...as she said, YOU are their greatest teacher. You may send your child to school and to church, but please don't leave all the teaching up to your child's teachers. As I have learned for myself, they learn the most by what they see MODELED at home! (scary, isn't it?!)
Have a great day.
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