Dear Reader:

When I talk to Mandy on the phone about her day or week this time of the year (elementary and middle school art teacher) a tired sigh precedes her answer. Without her uttering one word I know what that sigh means…

The students are wild and ready to get out for Christmas. Special Christmas events are happening at the school in the evenings, besides at school, which leaves little time to “re-coup” before heading back to the “front line trenches” the next day to try to find a way to keep some semblance of “heavenly peace” in the classroom.

I can certainly sympathize and empathize at the same time….been there, done that. It is hard but every time a long-ago student recognizes you in a store or movie or wherever and comes up to you saying that it was your class that made them become a history teacher or an art teacher…all the memories of crazy pre-holiday students disappear. (leaving only a wonderful feeling of accomplishment)

When I came across this beautiful little story on Amit.Awakin this week the same feelings of gratitude for certain teachers came rushing back from memories of school days of old.

“What You Missed in Fourth Grade”

Brad Aaron Modlin

 Mrs. Nelson explained how to stand still and listen
to the wind, how to find meaning in pumping gas,

how peeling potatoes can be a form of prayer. She took
questions on how not to feel lost in the dark.

After lunch she distributed worksheets
that covered ways to remember your grandfather’s

voice. Then the class discussed falling asleep
without feeling you had forgotten to do something else—

something important—and how to believe
the house you wake in is your home. This prompted

Mrs. Nelson to draw a chalkboard diagram detailing
how to chant the Psalms during cigarette breaks,

and how not to squirm for sound when your own thoughts
are all you hear; also, that you have enough.

The English lesson was that I am
is a complete sentence.

And just before the afternoon bell, she made the math equation
look easy. The one that proves that hundreds of questions,

and feeling cold, and all those nights spent looking
for whatever it was you lost, and one person

add up to something.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Wow! Powerful, true gritty lessons that never leave one’s memory. I especially love the English lesson…that I am. is a complete sentence unto itself.

One of Amit. Awakin’s regular readers and responders, David Doane, wrote that “I am” is not only a complete sentence but the most important statement we need to remember about ourselves. He quoted two other sources to re-enforce this thought:

As Rumi said, I’m not just the wave in the ocean, I’m also the ocean in the wave…  And remembering Mary Poppins words, “Enough is as good as a feast.”

 Jo Dufford invited me to a Christmas lunch at Time Well Spent yesterday  …When I got there she had a bag full of goodies for me. Some of her favorite Christmas stories over the years, a pretty-in-pink glass plaque that says “This is My Happy Place” right next to my computer. One the left side…I have my favorite gift…a box of Winnie the Pooh cards for every occasion so I can change out the cards according to the day or my mood. Love it and love you Jo!

 Jo was waiting on me for instructions on how to open the gifts…starting with the Christmas card that looks like a door leading to my “Happy Place” inside (pink plaque.) Wonderful lovingly used Christmas stories followed …ending with my Winnie the Pooh card box and the print Jo had selected yesterday. So creative!

Jo and I definitely broke “bread together”…the best kind…hot butter cinnamon scones!

So until tomorrow…Let’s take a moment during this busy Christmas season and remember those special teachers who taught us much more than academic lessons…they taught us life lessons.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Joan Semle called me yesterday and said while looking up scripture around the “eye of the sparrow” Google lead her to the post (Sounds like Reign) and a singing family (we think from the North Carolina mountains.) The wife sings “My Eye is on the Sparrow” on top on their mountain home…beautiful in its simplicity. Here is the home page…If interested just scroll down to see the song and click on. Thanks Joan for sharing.

Sounds Like Reign – Home | Facebook

Thanks Kaitlyn and Tommy for the Christmas card reminding me of the most special day…your wedding day. Hugs and kisses back.

      Holiday Kisses

With love, The Dingles