A Teacher’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Please bless me
Into usefulness this day.
I hold these precious children
In my heart as I do pray.

Please fill my classroom
Now with your holy love
As I pass on the wisdom
Sent to me from above.

I also need patience, love,
And guidance, too.
And please protect my spirit
As I pray now to you.

And then I heard an angel
Whisper in my ear.
“Your heart will be broken
By the children you hold dear.

But keep your sights set
On high and lofty goals,
Even though you’ll face
Rejection in your soul.

For some children will be harder
To love than all the others.
These will be the jewels upon your crown,
When you do bother.

For teaching is a spiritual journey
That only the brave will make.
You’ll have our help and guidance
With every step you take.”

As I raised my head,
I looked around in surprise,
As visions of their futures
Seemed to flash before my eyes.

And in confusion,
It slowly dawned on me.
That each of their successes
Would be partly due to me!


Johnny Graduates Tomorrow

What do you mean, "Johnny can't read?"
He graduates tomorrow.
One can only imagine what his life will be like,
His pain, his fear, his sorrow.

His parents feel it must have been
The failure of his teachers.
It seems they can remember a problem, once.
They called but didn't reach her.

They don't remember the times Johnny asked for help.
Attention was what he needed.
But their lives were hard and very painful.
They were never able to see it.

Their bitter fights, then the custody battles
Could never be to blame.
That was all done in Johnny's best interest.
Revenge never entered the game.

So what if Johnny couldn't concentrate
And was nervous all the time.
If the teachers had only done their jobs,
Everything would have been just fine.

It couldn't have been his parents' fault.
Their dues have all been paid.
They covered up and made excuses for
Every mistake he ever made.

No, it had to be the teachers' fault.
The blame they will not borrow.
But it really doesn't matter now for Johnny still can't read.
And he graduates tomorrow.


A Teacher’s Hope

As I look around my classroom
All my students I can see.
My wish for all these children
Is that they be all they can be.

Each of them is unique
With different learning styles.
And as I get to know them
Sometimes I make them smile.

Their backgrounds are varied
But all that means to me
Is that all these precious children
Need different blessings to receive.

Yes, I’m here to teach them science,
But this one thing I know.
There are more important things to learn
Before I let them go.

Knowledge is important
For this we should all strive,
But wisdom is a blessing
That keeps hope alive.

So each morning during our
Moment of silence, I do pray,
That God will let me be a blessing
To at least one of them this day.

If I can make a difference
In just one student’s life,
Then my mission is accomplished.
I can go forward without strife.


--ST

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