It is difficult to put into words what everyone is probably feeling right now. Our way of life has been turned upside down by this pandemic. No one is exempt. While disorder is becoming the norm, I have been so inspired by the actions of so many to offer encouragement. Leaders in the Christian community have been quick to respond with uplifting messages and free resources. Churches and schools are scrambling to provide groceries and meals to those in need. And educators—WOW!

What a difference one week makes. In my community students and teachers had a bounce in their step last weekend. It was the beginning of spring break, a time to relax. Now it looks like many will get a little extra time at home while under a cloud of uncertainty. Spring break has been extended an extra week. No one can blame city and district leaders for taking additional precautions to thwart the spread of the coronavirus. The motive is simply to keep everyone safe. However,

Aren’t you glad… · you woke up today? · the sun was shining? · the birds were singing? · your energy prevailed? · students were cooperative (mostly)? · colleagues were friendly? · you made a difference? · God sent his Son, Jesus? Aren’t you glad? Each one of these statements has a flip side. It is all about perspective. Instead of being glad about waking up today, we could be mad we had to get up so early. Instead of being happy some of our students were cooperative, we could

Several times over the life of my career as an educator (often in interviews), I have been asked the following question, “What is your philosophy of education?” I never liked this question. The question feels superficial and invariably yields a canned answer. I mean we all know the right answer to this question. It goes something like this… My philosophy of education is that all children are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow physi

Mindfulness is a common term now in education. There are new programs, professional development, and resources all focused around teaching mindfulness. The common definition for mindfulness is maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment through a gentle, nurturing lens. Studies report the practice of mindfulness strengthens our body’s immune system and increases positive emotions which, in turn, reduces st

The concept of fear is not foreign to educators. Children are often fearful. They are fearful of making mistakes, fearful of trying something new, fearful of asking questions, fearful of being hurt, or fearful of rejection. When fear takes control, our students often refuse to engage. Our efforts to encourage them may prove fruitless. I suspect all us at some point have stood by and helplessly watched as a child missed out on opportunity to grow and learn. As an educator, thi

Being a good teacher sometimes involves being a storyteller. Jesus was the master storyteller. I love how He could make spiritual truths easy to understand. His parables were engaging, applicable, and relevant to His listeners thousands of years ago, and they are still pertinent today. One of my favorite things about reading a parable is the red letter print in my Bible. There is something special about knowing these words came directly from the mouth of Jesus. When I read th

There once was an educator… who entered the school building with spunk and joyful anticipation, who treated every child with compassion and fairness, who went the extra mile to ensure a student’s success, who spoke to parents with kindness, who partnered with and supported colleagues, who respected and supported his supervisors, who picked up the slack when others needed help, who used words to edify, who was willing to forgive others, and whose outward actions reflected an i

When I was a young girl, I can remember having a conversation with my mom about my dad. The details are a bit foggy, but I do recall her emphasizing that my dad was well-known and respected. She said someday I would recognize how this benefited me. I don’t think I had a clue at the time, but for some reason I never forgot her words. I feel quite certain she was telling me this so I would be on my best behavior. I never wanted to embarrass my dad. It wasn’t because he was a di

I teach an adult Sunday School class and have for many years. Last week we began a new study entitled, “When Life Gets Hard.” One of the core truths of the study is that no one is immune to suffering. Pain is universal. However, what is not universal is how we respond to it. Some grin and bear it, others retaliate against the hurt, some become bitter, and a few give up. The question for all of us who claim to be a believer is this: Will we exercise our faith when life gets ha

Visit any pond, and you will invariably see someone throwing or skipping rocks. There is something about a still body of water. It lures us. There is this innate desire to create ripples. It is mesmerizing to watch as the disturbance gives the water energy resulting in ripples that emanate in all directions. The parallel to our lives seems a bit obvious. There is no question that each of us probably creates our own “ripples” each day. While we all prefer peaceful waters, our

2020 is here! Can you believe it? Time…where does it go? Last week’s blog addressed the importance of focusing on our faith. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find myself looking back over the past month and wondering what I accomplished. At times I fear I am just going through the motions—lacking focus. I want this year, this month, this week, this day to be different. As we all prepare to head back to the job of schooling this week, our minds are laser focused on our