Just Like Kids!

What does it meant to be childlike? Get a dictionary and you might read something like "to be like a child". Heard about it, thought I knew it but I was wrong. I never fully understood what it meant not until my world has been surrounded by kids everyday. Yes, God is teaching me how to be childlike again. I've "grown" old. I missed the wonder. I've lost the awe. I need to be like a child once more. And day by day, my students are teaching me how...

Kids love to learn. They are excited about new things, never failed to ask questions. They are always asking, "why?". I'm faced with a thousand "why's" everyday. Am I successful in giving them the answers they want? Yes! Most of the time, I just answer them with, "Oh, it's just because it's like that." A simple "just because" and they will start nodding like they've understood already. They were satisfied because they are sooooo trusting. They trust teacher enough to settle with teacher's answer. No matter what the "just because" means they know that teacher will not bring them to harm. I have learned from them that I must not stop to love learning, even if it means that I might get hurt in the process, I must trust my Master Teacher because He will never lead me to harm.

Kids don't mind admitting when they don't know something. With a sheepish smile my students will just call my attention and tell me that they don't know what to do and they need help. And they listen intently to instructions, Yes, I know some don't pay attention but still they don't mind to ask again because they still don't know yet what to do. Reality slapped me. I have messed up because I've pretended that I know what I was doing but I didn't. I was afraid to ask for help. So afraid to admit that I don't know. My life could have taken a different turn if I just asked my Master Teacher right away.

Kids love everybody with all their heart. Aw! Why? Because they don't have insecurities. It doesn't matter if you don't have all your front teeth. Somebody won the game they are all rejoicing, another classmate got a star stamp they all gather around that kid and looked like they too have one. And kids are so forgiving. They are fighting this minute and the next minute they are laughing together as if they've never fought their entire life. I can't just love everybody. I can't just forgive that easily especially if I was hurt very badly. But my Master Teacher is teaching me to let go of the angst, get rid of the bitterness, don't focus on my pain and love once again. It's amazing how kids just love everybody with all their heart, as if they have many reserved hearts. My Master Teacher is telling me that I can once again love with all my heart.

I want to trust, to depend, to laugh, to be humble, to forgive, to love just like a child once again...

Teacher Mel

Life is still a blast! For all the wrong things that happened in my life being a preschool teacher is the only thing that has been right. It's always fun to be around kids. They showered me with hugs and kisses and affection during the time that I needed it most. With all my emotional baggage still on my back, my first few months in teaching was chaotic. Most of the time, I'm struggling with knowing the school rules and set-ups and taking care of my personal life. I always find myself sobbing inside the bathroom whenever I had the opportunity. But the kids never failed to make me laugh. It amazes me how sensitive they are. They lavished me with warm embraces whenever they've noticed that something's not right with me. Some gave me a tap on the head. Yeah! I know it's supposed to be at the back but kids get theirs on the head most of the time right? That's why I got mine on the head also. Some even noticed how sad my eyes looked at certain days. Yes, I usually put up a happy face in front of them at that time but I guess that did the trick.


Things got better as I started to get along with my new world. Slowly, I am learning to embrace the consequences of my ill decisions and actions. Now, I always have reasons to get-out of the bed in the morning. My bunch of little angels would be waiting for their Galileo Teacher. The dopey-eyed teacher will be missed if she'll not show-up in school. I don't have a child of my own, at least not at this time yet, but these kids filled-up all that void inside me that screams for a baby. They are my kids. In school, I am like a mother to them, a friend at some point and a playmate sometimes.

I really feel blessed to be part of their lives. My memories with them will be forever cherished. Hmmm, wait! I'm not leaving them yet. Why the sad note? We've only just begun!

"The Blessing of a Storm"

by Wendy Greiner Lefko

I did not know His love before,
The way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
My pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care,
The "Self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
Not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark,
The storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
I found I had no hold.

The ship that I had built myself
Was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare,
With nowhere else to hide
I had no strength or faith to face
The trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name
And bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me,
And then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm,
But I will hold your hand."
So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
Or when I'd smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears,
My faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
But my light began to glow.
I saw God's love in a brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could
Jesus' love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can’t go on."
I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife,
Through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.

And now I see as ne'er before
How great His love can be,
How in my weakness He is strong,
How Jesus cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good,
Although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear,
And then He said, "Enough!"

He raised His hand and said, "Be still!"
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
And flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.

And now I know more storms will come,
But only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
As nothing ever could.
I still have so much more to learn
As Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
That's where I want to be!