When I felt God leading me to get my teaching certificate, I was excited because I’ve always loved being with little kids!  Many of my friends assumed I would choose the Christian school setting and were surprised when I said I was going to public schools.  I knew that as a Christian teaching in a public school there were obviously some things I couldn’t do. However, the Lord called me there so I knew there would be things I could do and so I did!  I always prayed for my students and sought His wisdom for how to love them and their parents.  Here’s an example of one of those prayers.

From the journal  .  .  .  . June 2001.

Lord, Vivian said her aunt is living with them so that her dad won’t hit her mom.  Oh Lord, she is a sensitive little girl, and I’ve been irritated because she cries so easily. I’m so sorry.  Now I can see why.  To see your mom getting hurt by your dad would be horrifying, to say the least.

Oh Lord, as I think of my students, there are some that have very sad home lives.  When Monica went home yesterday there was no one there. Jackie, our great bus driver, wouldn’t drop her off and brought her back to school.  When our secretary contacted her dad, he said to keep her and send her home with her sister.  He evidently hadn’t even missed her! 

Lord, my students need You.  They need to know that You love them.   Evan, Heidi, Adriana, Monica, Vivian, Anthony, Chester, J.D., Jilly, Jeffry, Katrina, Michelle, Thomas, and Tavan.    God, I have fourteen students that I am very worried about because of their dysfunctional home lives and a few more that are questionable. Lord, what a mess!  How can I help?  Prayer?  Absolutely!  Is there more I can do?

*All names are fictitious.  

And God Said to Me:

Try to have individual personal contact with them.  Look into their eyes. Value, love, and respect them with every encounter.  Don’t disregard their presence when you talk to their parents.  Put your hand on their heads and bless them.

Luke 18:15-16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.¹⁶ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
Col 3:21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
Mark 9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.

Oh Lord, have mercy on these little ones.

After this, I was more intentional about giving special attention to those children, but I knew the whole class needed to be valued, respected, and loved.  I did start putting my hands on their little heads and saying a silent blessing on each one.  The words the Lord gave reminded me of two different professors I had in college. They gave these words of wisdom that remained with me throughout my career.

Early Childhood Education Teacher:  “Each child needs to know they are loveable and valuable. “

Special Education Teacher: “Remember each child is dearly loved by their parent or guardian.”

The first advice was easy to apply because I know each one is valuable because they are made in the image of God and He has a plan for each one of them.

The second reminder was tougher because it wasn’t always evident that they were deeply loved, but I tried to give parents the benefit of the doubt.  Sometimes they just didn’t seem to have the experience, skills, or knowledge to know how to parent well.  This inspired a stronger commitment to include both parents and their children in my prayers. Though I am retired the Lord has not released me from that responsibility.

In conclusion, and especially considering the Bible verses about children, we must never overlook little people. God highly values them and we need to be sure to do the same!