Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A Prayer for the Teacher

Dear Father,

It is the night before the 1st day of school...again.
Hours have been spent by each teacher, thinking and planning and arranging to make tomorrow memorable for each of the students that will sit before them.

They have organized and agonized.
They have prettied up the place and hidden what they could.
They have studied their class lists and written the names many times.

Bless them, Father, with the passion that brought them to teaching.
-the passion for learning even today and tomorrow
-the passion for loving the less lovable as well as the most lovable
-the passion for teaching and celebrating the growth

Bless them, Father, with the patience they will need each day.
-the patience for stories that need to be told
-the patience for encouragement that needs to be offered
-the patience for interruptions and paper work

Bless them, Father, with miracles big and small.
-the miracle of connections made with a smile and a pat
-the miracle of trust established through listening and honoring each one
-the miracle of futures changed and lives lighted up

It is the night before the 1st day of school....again.
Let the joy bubble up,
let the magic begin,
let Your love shine brightly.

In the name of your Son, a powerful teacher in His own right,
Amen.


13 comments:

haybales said...

Well said, Mrs. Lohr.....makes me want to go back to school with you and co-teach -- at least for a couple of days! And may I add one of my favorite quotes to all of our teacher friends out there:

On your worst day on the job, you
are still some child's best hope.

Larry Bell

May God Bless you all!



Donna said...

Amen, again, Mrs. Bayles. We were quite the team for quite a few years! We gave lots of little ones hope...and we have gotten hugs in return after years! Yes.

Amy said...

Thanks for that Mrs. Lohr. That is a nice calm peaceful prayer as I lay here in the middle of the night, wide awake with the to do list and anticipation of another school year. I think I need to copy it and place it by my bed to read each night. By the way, if either of you want to come back to coteaching for the day I have 140 7th graders that will be all ears.

Donna said...

I was always like that, too, Amy. Too excited to sleep the first night. Last night I got a movie from the RedBox and went right to sleep afterwards.
Ahhh. Retirement. But, it is still a little bit weird to me....just the first day, not every day! Thank goodness.
Thank you for continuing to share God's love with your 140 kidlets! I'm sure they need it and you.

Donna said...

And amen, again!

W-S Wanderings said...

Amen.

And you guys really start school early, from my perspective. No school bells until early September here.

K said...

I used to get so - what is the word for that stomach that turns to nervous atoms and won't let you sleep. A combination of stage fright and excitement. I never got student lists till the last moment. And I never did work I respected more. or loved more. Still, it's nice to know that I won't be late on Monday morning because I'm my own boss now, sort of.

It is a lovely, insightful prayer -= I want to rest my palm on it, close my eyes, and let the words travel up through me, too, to the heavens. Especially this year.

Donna said...

They try to build in days incase it snows....a lot! We used to start after Labor Day (1st weekend in Sept), but it just keeps getting earlier and earlier. Got out at the end of May last year - no snow!

Donna said...

I do miss the passion and possibilities of teaching, but like you, I don't miss the pressures. That's why part time tutoring is good for me. I get to do just the part that is exactly the reason I wanted to be a teacher in the first place...I get to help kids learn and to love learning! Yay!

Thanks for sharing the prayer and sending it up again. Why is it needed especially this year?

Chazi R said...

Ah--that was absolutely LOVELY! Ever so heartening. <3

Donna said...

I am so glad there are amazing teachers like you still fighting the good fight and shining your light!

Farida said...

Being a teacher is a very rewarding job especially when you see your students improving in all aspect. I teach English as Second Language.

Your prayer was beautiful. God bless you!

Donna said...

Farida, I taught for 33 years and loved it. I am now retired and do some tutoring and teach Sunday School.