March 7, 1911, in a small southern town of Italy, a strong, healthy cry made it known that a feisty, fun, fearless, little girl had entered our world. Her life would be one filled with all the hardships, trials and love that this side of heaven has to bring. Through the Great Depression and World Wars; inventions and change; to watching three of her five children go home to be with our Lord earlier than expected; by way of it all she managed to always add value to the lives of others. Throughout the peaks and valleys of life, she passed-on a legacy as she ever so naturally bestowed the utmost incredible truth about God’s continuous grace.
I love to recall a family gathering when my Dad lovingly wrapped his arm around her and proudly stated, “Woman, you’ve been from the horse and buggy to the calculator!” In a season in time, witnessing ninety-three years of life, Rachel “Rae” (my Grandma) optimistically and joyfully navigated through time, leaving an inheritance fueled with passion and love. Her gift to me was more precious than silver, gold, and all the riches that are untold; when she got down on her knees and taught me how to pray when I was just seven years old.
One day as my Grandma and I sat on the steps of her front porch, and I asked her to share some words of wisdom, her response, “Be sure to get out every day to live the life that you have been given; and, everything in moderation.” Her words echo often in my ears. In part, she left behind some great tools, a beautiful little present of words spoken out of experiences. Although life is not always easy, and we don’t always get what we hoped for here on earth, it’s great to know that there are champions, God-given powerful words, that are meant to strengthen us and keep us on the winning team.
The right word at the right time can elevate our world to a better place. As I think about what my Grandmother said, “Everything in moderation” a well known scripture from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 comes to mind, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven..” In this life we will face hardships, trials and of course (hopefully) love and joy. We will also experience, feelings, emotions and choice-making. We are given the ability to make healthier, more positive decision about how to think, feel, and behave when we are given the right tools and the context to do so. Finding the balance and wholeness in due measure all starts with prayer. In life, everything in moderation, has its place.
When a need or circumstance is followed by a course of action it creates history. From beginning to end, there is nothing better for us than to seek God first in all things. After all, Eternity is set in the human heart. There is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. Time is a stepping stone for what is yet to come.
A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.
Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, be with us, direct our path, fill us with the riches of Your grace, transform our mind with a healthy balance that is good for our body and soul. Guide us with Your gracious love, that we may press forward to being all that You created us to be. In Your Holy Name we pray… Amen Sweet blessings always,
Deanna Danielle
Deannadanielle.com
Proverbs 2:2-5 My son, if you receive My words and treasure up My commandments with you making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding, yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Made in the image of God, Adam and Eve had remarkable freedom and premier careers. To begin with, they were the first parents of the human race, they held the possession of chief caretakers, zoologists, and gardeners, just to mention a few… God did not put Adam and Eve on the earth and then form it. It was quite the opposite; our Loving Creator prepared the place and then put them in it to enjoy it!
God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, does the same for each and every one of us. Fear of the unknown can have the greatest grip on our lives. Still, we can take comfort in this Psalm of David, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His Holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.” [Psalm 24:1-5] God will fulfill every purpose He has for us, still our choices and actions are indeed important.
In the early years of 1995 as the beautiful fall foliage covered the landscapes and crisp November fragrances filled the air, my husband and I moved our growing family from a co-op, to the top floor of an apartment building. A few weeks prior I had gone with my Dad to see his friend about a temporary place to stay, as we searched for a more permanent home to raise our children. The next thing I knew, it was ours. I was speechless but not so much in a good way. I started having nightmares. To me, 8H seemed as though the “H” stood for Hell and the 8 was way too high. After all, I had lived in a house up until I was married and our co-op was a walk-in duplex. Living in a building was new to me. I had these visions of getting stuck in the elevator with the kids, the structure collapsing, you name it. Little did I know that this top floor apartment was a gift from God to me and my family.
Shortly after moving in, the elevator did break down and for a short while we had to climb 8 flights of steps – 2 young boys, a baby in a carrier, laundry, shopping bags… Wherever there was a place on me to hang something, I did! It became routine, as we’d approach the 6th floor, my boys always a flight ahead looking down the stairs at me, saying “Come on Mom, come on.” I could only laugh, because the weight hanging from me would not allow my brain to signal my legs to lift up to the next step. But somehow, we always made it to the top and when we got there, the 8th floor, I must say it was well worth it, simply breath-taking. There was peace there as it overlooked the Long Island Sound and we could see the bridge to Manhattan as well as up toward Connecticut. Higher than the birds flew our living room windows held a different abstract everyday and during our daughter’s a.m. feeding we could capture the sunrise – like a burst of flame scoring through the sky. Although 8H carried its challenges, God had put us in an awesome place.
One morning as my husband and the boys’ were out of the apartment and our baby girl was napping, there was a strong desire inside of me to pick up the Bible. As I began to read while facing the east on an incredibly clear skied day, I noticed that everyone in the Bible that loved God had given their lives to Him. With a very nervous feeling within me, I quickly stood up and prayed this prayer to God. “I love you so much; but I can’t give my life to you right now. I can’t die, my children need me...” That’s when a gentle whisper of God’s Holy Spirit filled me with these words, “You won’t die, give your life to Me and you will live!” At that very moment the fear in me disappeared, and with a overwhelming sense of joy, I responded, “Well then, I give my life to You!” I remember feeling this sensation of completeness. Helen Keller, said it so well, “The best and most beautiful things could never be seen nor touched only felt with the heart”. What had happened to me at that moment was something between God and me. As if a shade that was covering up my eyes, had been lifted up. The beauty in that experience can never truly be described and at that very moment I knew apartment 8H was meant to be. Only now the ‘H’ was Heaven to me!
There is so much room in our lives for improvement. Taking chances, healthy chances, plays a great part in the process of delivering our services to the world. I heard what God was saying to me that day and He clarified His intentions. All it took was a little bit of prayer and understanding was granted. Only through the Holy Spirit of God could we understand. Just as a hole in the sand can be filled with a taste of the ocean, the ocean is way too big for the hole to consume it all, and in just that way God gives us enough of Himself to be filled with His awesome love, direction and plan.
Hallmark moments from a gentle lullaby to the wedding ceremony; happy events to the last dance, faith helps us to see things as God does. The desire for God is written in the Human Heart. What we allow to feed our mind and our soul has just as much worth if not more than the things we feed our bodies. Through the lives of others we learn how and how not to live. There is pricelessness in the gift of listening and communing with the Lord. Take a look at the life of Moses for confirmation.
Moses Led a Nation because He kept His eyes on God. Jethro, his father-in-law, gave him some constructive criticism in Exodus 18:13-26. But it was up to Moses to receive it. Moses from morning till night listened to a people lined up with arguments and complaints against each other. Jethro asked Moses, “Why are you trying to do this all alone, this is not good,” he exclaimed. “You are going to wear yourself out and the people too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now let me give you a word of advice….” How did Moses feel after a long day of complaints and now his father-in-law is telling him how he thinks he should be doing things, that he got it all wrong. Well, this would all have to depend on Moses attitude. The blessing God gave to Jethro to give to Moses could have been hindered if he, ‘Moses’ thought I’m the one with the gift, not you, after all was it not I who saw the burning bush, led these people out of Israel, parted the sea and now you’re telling me what I should be doing. No, Moses had a different approach. He listened to the advice to see if there was a better way and in his listening, he heard the sound of music, great advice and a weight off his shoulders. A way to bless others, how to delegate and form a better government. And I’m sure a peace in his soul and the joy of getting it all started.
God has given us all the gift of life, how we use that gift is truly the gift we give back to Him. There are some many encouraging stories in the Bible that leave us with understanding for times when in need. Healthy risks, opportunities and taking chances bless us. It’s the open doors we go through to experience the journey that Our Creator has prepared for us and knowing, whatever the outcome of that journey, we will not be walking it alone. It’s knowing the guarantee and security of when this lifetime is over we will be spending our eternity with the One who Created us and everything around us, in us and for us. God did not put Adam and Eve in an unprepared place, and through the different journeys we take that never seem to succeed, with God we are guaranteed stronger character building, inner strength, patience, greater endurance, more confidence and an education, “no money could ever buy.” Success is not measured by the amount of things we have. True success is the amount of valuable time we spend with Our Creator, allowing Our God to be part of our every thought, our every move, our every breath. We don’t have to go very far to find Him, He is as close as the breath we breathe, we only have to let Him in, He’s been waiting. Our God is a kind, loving and patient God who cares about our every move, we are His mosaics. The fear of the Lord is where true success begins.
“John the Baptist, who was at this time in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “are you really the Messiah we’ve been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, God blesses those who are not offended by Me.” [Matthew 11:2-6]
As we read and learn about things like this in the Bible, you can’t help but to fall in love with Jesus.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke fits perfectly, and My burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28]
Our God is merciful, tender-loving, loyal, unchanging, and undenying – He loves us no matter what, even though God does discipline us to keep us from sin. He is a restorer and an encourager to those who repent fullheartedly. It is God and only God that gives us a new beginning, a fresh start for delivering our services to the world!
A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow.
Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, be with us, direct our path, fill us with the riches of Your grace, transform our mind with a healthy balance that is good for our body and soul. Guide us with Your gracious love, that we may press forward to being all that You created us to be. In Your Holy Name we pray… Amen
One by one, their steps were quick and their faces were brightly smiling. Their arms were stretched out carrying trays of banana bread, muffins, donuts, brownies, cookies, and cupcakes beautifully decorated with colorful sprinkles, as they entered into the auditorium. They were prepared for service. Kids helping kids, they put on their aprons and were ready to raise money for St. Jude children, to help them fight cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The rush was on. As the other teachers gathered their students to go to class, we had our first customers; one very generous teacher and her group. Then the silence came and the clock was ticking, uh-oh… I thank God for the gift of prayer. We prayed, and as I shared with them what a wonderful thing they were doing to help others, the sound of pitter patter was in the hall and we were up and running once again. When the younger class that came to purchase sat to enjoy their treats, out of the blue, my students started singing…
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?…
This is the beauty of having the privilege to teach. It’s when your students “WOW” you, no money can buy that!
There are times in our lives when we hear a song, a national anthem, and it moves us. As I see our world today and wonder what we will leave behind for our children, I express warm admiration for the words of Mandela in the movie Invictus:
“I couldn’t help noticing the empty offices as I came to work today, and all the packing boxes. Now, of course, if you want to leave, that is your right. And if you feel in your heart that you cannot work with your new government, then it is better that you do leave, right away. But if you are packing up because you fear that your language, or the color of your skin, or who you served previously, disqualifies you from working here now, I am here to tell you, have no such fear. What is verby is verby. What is past is past. We look to the future, now. We need your help. We want your help. If you would like to stay, you will be doing your country a great service. I ask only that you do your jobs to the best of your abilities, and with good hearts. I promise to do the same.”
May God bless our Country and everyone in it always. May God bless our world that there may be peace, happiness and perfect health. May God bless you and me. For we are all a part of God’s great big family, if only we want to be…
Deanna Danielle
For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Our class begins in a prayer circle. The room is set up with 4 to 6 desks that create the look of tables. Adding a desk or two, I have the children share chairs so that everyone has a seat. In the center of the table we have a burning candle (battery operated). After they wash their hands, we talk about God’s love for us, events that are happening in our world, and I often share a life story with them.
While setting up class today, I realized that I did not have the candle with me. Wondering what to do, I prayed. As I asked God for guidance, instantly I knew what to do. As the kids sat down, I asked them if they noticed something different. They all commented that the candle was missing and that it wasn’t a very good feeling. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about the love that God has for us, and how incomplete life would be if we didn’t have Jesus in it.
I shared a story with them about a friend of a friend, a woman who was in her last hours with a disease called lupus. I told them of how in her final state as she yelled out to God, she heard Him ask her, “What is Love?” In her silence, she heard Him again, “What is Love?” At that moment, she felt His presence like never before. Through a vision of red-hot luminescent energy passing from one heart to another, she could hear God speak to her, “That which you are seeing is Love, I AM that Love. She wanted to bow down even further into a greater reverence to him. However, because she was lying on her stomach, she was unable to kneel down as deep as she wanted to.
I told them of how God explained a lot to her about why people do what they do in life and why things happen the way they do. He explained to her that there are only two forces here on this earth, and that when things come against us we can counteract them with the supernatural Word of God.
I was kneeling down to speak to them at eye level. As I put my hands up in an expressive gesture to continue to tell the story, I felt a hand go into my right hand, and then another go into my left, and what looked like a domino effect, one hand went into another until we had a circle of hands holding on to each other. If you could only imagine, as a teacher, what a beautiful feeling this was. This was a lesson from the heart of a classroom, the meaning of true love as we held hands to pray.
“That I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!” – Psalm 30:12
Wishing you and your family, a very blessed Thanksgiving!
Deanna Danielle
Thank you to those that have given their lives to protect our freedoms. Many make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe and we thank them for that. God Bless the U.S Military, and everyone we love. Card made by Alex, 4th grade November, 2015 Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to Him. – Psalm 95:2
In the Gospel of John 15:12, Jesus teaches, “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you…”
At our Thanksgiving cupcakes and lemonade fundraiser, you could truly feel that love. Our class was so blessed with everyone who joined in to help make this fundraiser possible. This was from the baking and awesome gifts donated for our raffle, to the impeccable support and help of all who gave of their time.
Through the pouring rain, and the second class session canceled due to no heat in the building, God truly blessed us. We raised $1,027.97 in two hours. Some of the children there wanted to help even more, and set up another bake sale for two days later, and they did. After receiving a text, “Round 2 and doing well!”, the second session brought in $205.66!
It is a privilege to be able to lend a helping hand. The money we raised will be put towards meals and helping others this Thanksgiving season. It is my prayer that we may all put aside time to give thanks for all our blessings. As Hannah wrote in her journal, “Thank you for all that I have learned today. Thank you for my family and friends. I love you God with all my heart and soul.”
Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity International said it so well, “I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need.”
Wishing you and your family a very blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!
Deanna Danielle
Cupcakes and Lemonade! “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
The greatest love anyone could ever know, is to know God’s awesome love for them. This is why it brings me great joy to teach about our faith. As my class and I gathered around in a tight-knit circle, I held Noah’s Arc puzzle flashcards. I believe working together makes life a little easier and more enjoyable. So, with teams of two, I gave every team a piece of the puzzle.
I shared with our class the story of Noah and how God called him to do what no one had ever done before, and that was to become the first major shipbuilder.God told Noah to go into the ark with his whole family and take with him seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate. He also took seven pairs of the male and female of every kind of bird. It rained for forty days and nights, as Noah, his family and all the animals sailed on to a place where only faith in God could take them.
I shared with our class how Noah did everything just as God commanded. Reflecting upon this story, I thought about how it took a team, God’s team, to bring about this fresh new start. Keeping that huge ship clean and orderly could only work with everyone giving it their all by working together; cleaning up, feeding the animals, collecting eggs, and tending to all the needs that took place. We even get a glimpse of how the raven and the dove helped out, by seeing if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. As I share the meaning of these beautiful scriptures with our class, it is important to me that I show them the joy of working together. With a piece of the puzzle in hand, along with team work, they put all the pieces together. From the unknown to the beautiful, all hands were in. They all had fun working together.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta put it best, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
The chapter we covered this week in class talked about how good shepherds love and care for their sheep. It also shared how Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. We learned a lot about the nature of sheep. Sheep have very interesting personality traits, many similar to us. We also learned how good shepherds are a reflection of God’s love for us.
In this chapter, all the kids had the opportunity to pretend that they had a little sheep. I believe that once they learned they had to give it a name, they became very close to the it. When I asked them about the name they chose and why, they all gave more or less the same response; “Because I love that person, they are very special to me.” Anabelle said, she chose the names, Mary and God, for that reason alone.
I turned on a video as I shared how they are all very special, and will always be, because God made them and gave them all a meaning and purpose. The film was about a little crippled sheep who felt left out and different. This then brought him a lot of anger, to the point of going out into the wilderness on his own. He wanted to prove to the rest of the sheep that he did not need them. This pride brought the little sheep into great danger as he faced a giant lion. This made Siena turn to me and say, “My hands are sweating!” As she waited fearfully of what was going to happen. Sure enough, just as the great lion was getting ready to feast, the Good Shepherd interceded and saved him.
Even after the blessing of being saved, the little sheep was not very happy. He was still crippled and different from the rest. Then, one night when all the sheep were on their way to the green pasture, he had to stay back at the barn. On this night, there was one very bright star in the sky, and a lovely lady and her husband entered the barn. Next the little sheep realized that a beautiful baby boy was just born. Then, the couple looked around for something to help keep their newborn baby warm on that cold night. The little crippled sheep realized, for the first time, that God had a great purpose for him. The little sheep would be the one to help keep the newborn baby warm.
After the film, I said, “Look at my lips. There is something I want you to remember always.” They asked, “You want us to remember your lips?” I said, “No, I want you to remember not only what I say, but I want you to see what I am saying. I want it to be seen with your eyes, heard with your ears and received in your heart. God made you very special, and has great plans for you.” I have to say, that all their little smiles, are enough to make a teacher feel the presence of God’s great love in the room.
When we feel broken, it is truly a time when we see the hand of God in action, protecting us. As the psalm of David says, in psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Looking back at our last class blog, I cannot believe it was in the month of November. Since then, we’ve celebrated Christmas and entered into a brand new year. As I reflect upon our classes that have passed, I ponder thoughts for upcoming sessions. Lessons on how to keep the kids engaged and enthusiastic, in learning about our faith.
From coloring, to our workbook, working on a project to role playing, or watching a movie to telling stories. All the kids have their favorite activity. However, the two most sought-after requests, besides being a class helper, that I am asked are: “When are we going to pick out of the treasure chest?” and “Are we going to have a snack today?” Seasons may come and go, years may pass; nevertheless, human nature has always remained the same. Seeking out the treasures in life and filling our bellies, have always been a top-priority.
Through a child’s eyes, there is so much we can learn. Being a teacher and a mom, I have to say that “I may prepare a lesson, or provide the meal, but somehow, I always leave with the treasure.” Whether it’s something astonishing that a student shares, or the simplicity of when my little girl says, “Hey mom, this spoon has a happy face…” You know it could only be God’s grace touching the heart.
So, let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. ~ Hebrews 4:16 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. ~ Ephesians 3:18
And, if I may say so myself, “That would even make the spoon smile :)”
Little hands, colorful paper, and thoughts of what we are grateful for, helped to make our Thanksgiving turkeys this year. As we prepare to celebrate this festival that began with the Pilgrims back in 1621. I asked our class to share what they were grateful for. For Alexa, it’s God and Jesus; Lucas, his garden; and Ryan, his house. Dominic, Chase, Nick, Joseph and Annabelle are grateful for family. Adrienne is thankful for the earth; Lily, for oxygen; and Mark, for his faith.
Today, our program also had its annual Thanksgiving food collection. All the items went to our church’s food pantry. This will help feed many people here in our own home town this Thanksgiving. Together, all the students filled 100 bags! So, I like to say; Way to Go! Great job!
At our prayer service, I had the privilege to read beautiful scripture of Jesus feeding over five thousand people. Matthew 14:13-21, “When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ ‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. ‘Bring them here to Me,’ He said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”
This reminds me that Jesus was truly the One who taught us about Thanksgiving. He not only preached this, but lived by example. Whether He was feeding four thousand, five thousand, or God only knows how many more not listed in scripture. We see our Lord’s divine ability to completely meet the needs of all the Earth. This, in itself, is an awesome blessing to be grateful for. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
So, this Thanksgiving, as we’re thankful for all the wonderful things in our lives, may we join together to pray for the poor, the homeless, the orphans, and the widows. Let us pray for all the needs of others and the needs of ourselves. May you be blessed with peace, happiness and great health this Thanksgiving season and always!
The only way to truly get to know someone is by the amount of time we spend with them. Having a class of 19 first-graders once a week, for only an hour and a half makes getting to know every one of them both joyful and challenging.
For our first day of class this year, I decided to prepare pin style name badges for each of the students. When I was through with writing their names, I was afraid the pin might stick them. So, to avoid this, I taped the badges to ribbon and created necklaces. These cute lanyards would now serve three purposes: First, to get to know their names, Second, I could use it as a class lesson, sharing with them that they are a gift from God, thirdly, they are recyclable and we can use them each week.
Three weeks have passed since our second class. One week the school closed for a tornado watch and the last two weeks I had been attending seminars. So, returning this week, I thought I’d keep it simple and make old-fashioned stick-on name tags. Funny how the kids remembered our routine, as they approached me asking for their name tag necklaces. Taken by surprise, I have to thank God for the new opportunity I had. I was able to share with them how we began with the ribbon necklace so they can see how they are all gifts from God. Now, today, we have name tags, because every gift has a name tag on it, and they are all presents to their families, me and everyone they meet.
There is a saying that I have come to know because it describes a part of me very well. It goes like this, “Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” I have to say, I’m still working on remembering everyone’s name. However, their little personalities speak loudly. From those who are there, ready to respond, to those who are a little more quiet, and still those who find the chairs a little too uncomfortable to sit in for too long. This is the beauty of being a teacher. It is my prayer that as I get to know them, that they get to know our Loving Lord through their involvement in our class lessons. The truth is, “How to Get to Know Someone” is truly by the gift of time we have to spend with them.
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John1:1-4
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