Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.    Mark 9:35-37

I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher. I love the learning and the sense of community. I love the excitement of taking on new opportunities and the growth that occurs from facing new challenges. Most of all, I love the chance to impact the lives of children and young adults through building relationships. I feel called to be an educator and I honestly can’t picture doing anything else with my life.  

Looking back over some of the experiences and moments that have shaped and molded me into the educator and Christian that I am today, I think of the spring break mission trips during college. I remember how a smile, a song, or a game of soccer shared with children at an orphanage in Mexico could bridge any language barrier. I recall how reading books with and  giving piggybacks to a preschooler in Washington D.C. can bridge economic and race              distinctions. I also think of the three summers I spent being a camp counselor during college, both at a Bible camp and a camp for children and teens with special needs. Some of these kids knew they would not survive their teenage years, but yet, laughed, danced, performed at    talent shows, and sang at campfires.   

Now, as a teacher, I feel privileged to learn with and from young people at Hudson Middle School each day. Whether it’s a simple exchange of a high-five or fist-bump in the hallway or a heart-to-heart conversation about, “What should I do in such-and-such situation?” -- each        interaction is an opportunity to build relationships and impact lives. Quite often, however, it is the students who remind me of what is most important. During a Friday lunch bunch with a group of young ladies, one of them was questioning the others and shared her lack of  knowledge about basic Bible stories or Christian beliefs. I got to witness her friends’ excitement as they shared the Gospel and their faith in a loving and authentic way.  

Pastor John said in a recent sermon that though it is true that kids are our future, they (more importantly) are our today. I wholeheartedly agree. With God’s provision of knowledge,   training, and talents, I am thankful that I get to be part of the lives and decisions of kids in our community each day.  

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for our children, teens, and young adults who are not only our   future, but our today. Help us to welcome these young people into our lives with open hearts and open arms. Grant us wisdom, humility, and patience as we listen to and interact with them. In your name we pray, Amen.