It was my turn to lead all-student devotions on Monday morning. Here is a letter that I read to the school.
Often during the Christmas season, teachers get letters and notes from parents and students thanking them for the work that they do and the commitments that we have made to our school and to the students. This morning, I have a note for you, our students.
Dear Students of Heritage Christian School,
As we come to the end of a semester, your teachers and I have learned so much about you and from you. You have made an impression on us that will last a life time. We have gotten to know your personalities, your temperaments, your sense of humor, your strengths and your weaknesses. As much as we have taught you, you have also taught us so many things.
Today, I want you to think about the ways that you have impacted us, your teachers, using the familiar passage from Galatians 5.
Galatians 5: 14 and 22-25 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
This is a familiar passage to all of you, even the kindergartners. Listen for a few minutes while I tell about some of the ways that you have shown me that the Fruit of the Spirit of God is shining in you.
Love: You teach me about love when I see your love for each other. You teach me about love when I see you chatting in the halls during morning break. You teach me about love when I see you come to the office together for a Tylenol or to make a phone call. You teach me about love when you take notes for a friend who is absent. I learn about love when I see your tears when a classmate moves to another country.
Joy: You teach me about joy when I go to the doors in the morning to let the kindergartners into the room. Every morning they are bursting with things to tell me and (most of the time) so thrilled to be here. It reminds me that it is such a joy to be with children everyday who love God, love
one another, and love me. As one of the kindergarteners reminds me often, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Peace: You teach me about peace, when someone cuts in front of you, or interrupts you, or rams into you in the hall and you don’t kick up a fuss. You teach me peace when you remember to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you.
Longsuffering: You teach me longsuffering when you make a mistake on your school work and I ask you to fix it and you DO it.…WITHOUT complaining. You teach me and all of your teachers about longsuffering in so many ways that I couldn’t possibly list here.
Gentleness: You teach me gentleness when you pray for one another in your classroom prayers. You teach me about
gentleness when you ask me to pray for your friends or family members that are sick or struggling. You have taught me about gentleness when you bring in a special birthday treat that does not have nuts because someone in the class has a peanut allergy or when you go outside and play with a student with special needs.
Goodness: You have taught me about goodness when you want to sing praises to God. You teach me about goodness when you can’t wait for the Bible story in the morning. You teach me about goodness when I can see that you love to talk about how God loves you and how God loves your friends and about how God loves me.
Faith: You teach me about faith when you speak so freely about the love God has for you and the place that God is making for us in heaven. You teach me about faith in Monday morning devotions and chapels when you are so eager to answer questions about God.
Meekness: You teach me about being meek and humble when you admit that you have done something wrong. You teach me about meekness when you say you are sorry for a sin that you have committed. You remind me to be meek and humble when we talk about how all of us sin and need God’s forgiveness and you say “even teachers do”.
Temperance: You teach me about temperance when you keep yourself under control when your teacher leaves the room. You teach me about self-control when you don’t laugh hysterically when another student says the wrong answer. You teach me about self-control when you can be loud as ever before chapel and you immediately settle down when chapel begins.
Each of you have taught us so much throughout your days, months, and years here at Heritage and for that we are thankful to you and thankful for you. May God always bless you.
In Christ’s love,
Me... and your teachers…
Often during the Christmas season, teachers get letters and notes from parents and students thanking them for the work that they do and the commitments that we have made to our school and to the students. This morning, I have a note for you, our students.
Dear Students of Heritage Christian School,
As we come to the end of a semester, your teachers and I have learned so much about you and from you. You have made an impression on us that will last a life time. We have gotten to know your personalities, your temperaments, your sense of humor, your strengths and your weaknesses. As much as we have taught you, you have also taught us so many things.
Today, I want you to think about the ways that you have impacted us, your teachers, using the familiar passage from Galatians 5.
Galatians 5: 14 and 22-25 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
This is a familiar passage to all of you, even the kindergartners. Listen for a few minutes while I tell about some of the ways that you have shown me that the Fruit of the Spirit of God is shining in you.
Love: You teach me about love when I see your love for each other. You teach me about love when I see you chatting in the halls during morning break. You teach me about love when I see you come to the office together for a Tylenol or to make a phone call. You teach me about love when you take notes for a friend who is absent. I learn about love when I see your tears when a classmate moves to another country.
Joy: You teach me about joy when I go to the doors in the morning to let the kindergartners into the room. Every morning they are bursting with things to tell me and (most of the time) so thrilled to be here. It reminds me that it is such a joy to be with children everyday who love God, love
one another, and love me. As one of the kindergarteners reminds me often, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Peace: You teach me about peace, when someone cuts in front of you, or interrupts you, or rams into you in the hall and you don’t kick up a fuss. You teach me peace when you remember to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you.
Longsuffering: You teach me longsuffering when you make a mistake on your school work and I ask you to fix it and you DO it.…WITHOUT complaining. You teach me and all of your teachers about longsuffering in so many ways that I couldn’t possibly list here.
Gentleness: You teach me gentleness when you pray for one another in your classroom prayers. You teach me about
gentleness when you ask me to pray for your friends or family members that are sick or struggling. You have taught me about gentleness when you bring in a special birthday treat that does not have nuts because someone in the class has a peanut allergy or when you go outside and play with a student with special needs.
Goodness: You have taught me about goodness when you want to sing praises to God. You teach me about goodness when you can’t wait for the Bible story in the morning. You teach me about goodness when I can see that you love to talk about how God loves you and how God loves your friends and about how God loves me.
Faith: You teach me about faith when you speak so freely about the love God has for you and the place that God is making for us in heaven. You teach me about faith in Monday morning devotions and chapels when you are so eager to answer questions about God.
Meekness: You teach me about being meek and humble when you admit that you have done something wrong. You teach me about meekness when you say you are sorry for a sin that you have committed. You remind me to be meek and humble when we talk about how all of us sin and need God’s forgiveness and you say “even teachers do”.
Temperance: You teach me about temperance when you keep yourself under control when your teacher leaves the room. You teach me about self-control when you don’t laugh hysterically when another student says the wrong answer. You teach me about self-control when you can be loud as ever before chapel and you immediately settle down when chapel begins.
Each of you have taught us so much throughout your days, months, and years here at Heritage and for that we are thankful to you and thankful for you. May God always bless you.
In Christ’s love,
Me... and your teachers…