Tribute to children

When you teach children, some interesting things happen.

First, you become sensitive to their behavior, even to how they sit. Their under your charge and you’re given the right to guide the children in their behavior of what is right and wrong. You develop a sixth sense on where they physically are. Second, you start seeing their strengths and weaknesses. This one you have be careful with and emphasize the good while correcting the negative as you go. Third, you start tracking their obedience when you correct them. I like the kids when they are well behaved instead of wandering off into belligerent attitudes.

Every Sunday my husband and I get to teach three kids at church. These children are energetic, want to do what is right and are incredibly eager to participate and contribute to the lesson every week. Being 6-8 years old it’s impressive what they know and what they retain, especially when they don’t seem to be paying attention.

And anything hands on is a winner with the kids – drawing pictures, Simons Says (to let them wiggle before they have to sit through another lesson) and any hand out that they get to put together. They want interaction more than discussion.

There are sweet moments when they give you a hug and say thank you for teaching them. We’re just doing our part without expecting any thanks; their thank you takes us off guard. When the children work together to be reverent (this can work in reverse too). These are great days, you can focus on the lesson you prepared instead of pulling to kids apart from each other because they won’t stop poking one another. When their parents say thanks for being their teachers – I never know how to reply but to say they have a good kids. I could never take credit for a kid who has so many good adults who influence their life.

What my husband and I always strive to do is help the children become better than when they first entered our classroom. So they are better prepared for the next step in their lives. Some days we think we are doing a better job than others. But the question – is it worth it? To struggle to get the kids to listen, to teach even though one has to switch positions every three seconds, to take a child aside and address their misbehavior – is it worth it?

Oh yes. Those kids will turn out better than we think. We are a step in their journey of growing up. I often remind myself when my nieces and nephews are three – they aren't stuck there, it’s a phase of growing up. That helps me restrain my concerns and feel hopeful about every child’s future.