Two words can never be spoken enough, especially to educators: Thank you. Those two simple words can be a beacon of light on an otherwise dreary day. Just to know someone appreciates the work we are doing can spur us on to persist through the struggle and negativity that has become part of our reality. I recognize a blog may not be the ideal way to express the thanks you deserve; nevertheless, I want to personally thank you and remind you that your actions do not go unnoticed!
· Thank you for the late nights of planning just to be ready to teach online and in person!
· Thank you for the patient answering of questions that never end.
· Thank you for the nights you have laid awake trying to figure out how to meet the needs of that one particular child that doesn’t seem to respond well to anything you do.
· Thank you for the hug you gave a child that needed extra encouragement.
· Thank you for the smile you put on every day even though you may not feel quite so happy.
· Thank you for the many phone calls you’ve made and cards you’ve written to offer words of guidance and love to your students.
· Thank you for the advice you provide when students don’t know how to navigate a conflict on their own.
· Thank you for the endless hours of learning something new to be the best teacher you can be.
· Thank you for completing what you might consider to be unnecessary and mundane tasks simply because your administrator asked you to do so.
· Thank you for managing 25 to over 100 students in one day.
· Thank you for speaking kindly to the angry parent who had an unfounded accusation.
· Thank you for sacrificing time with your own family to spend time with your school family.
· Thank you for attending numerous extracurricular activities to cheer on your students and celebrate their gifts.
· Thank you for seeing children as gifts from God created in His image.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
With all of this said, I recognize it still may not be enough. There is always a sense that people don’t understand or appreciate all the work educators do. I will say, though, that the pandemic has opened the eyes of many parents! Also, I want to remind you that your Heavenly Father sees you and all you are doing. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, God knows!
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13
For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28:24
Ultimately, we don’t do this work for a pat on the back, even though it’s nice to receive one every once in a while. We do this work because this is what God has called us to. We know that if He’s called us to serve children, then He will give us all we need and more. As hard as it is sometimes, we have to remember that our rewards may not be acknowledged here. However, make no mistake about it—rewards are being stored up for you in Heaven!
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24
I truly am sorry that educators are not valued and appreciated as much as they should be. Someday you will receive all the thanks you deserve, and it will be glorious!
Thank You (For Giving to the Lord) by Ray Boltz
One by one they came Far as the eyes could see. Each life somehow touched By your generosity. Little things that you had done, Sacrifices made. Unnoticed on the earth In heaven now proclaimed.
CHORUS Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.
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