Suffer the Children

The most awesome responsibility we have as educators is to introduce the children we have in our care to the wonder of living. Some come from kind and loving homes, some have never experienced that. I strive to show mine the love of Christ through my actions and my words, and yes, with some of the activities we have during the day. My father wrote this poem that has always been close to my heart, since little ones are so much a part of my life. I would like to share it with you.

Let The Children Come

The disciples, while they stood about,
Strove to keep the children out;
But Jesus said, imploringly,
"Let the children come to me."

Is there a boy too small that he
Can't find a place at Jesus' knee?
Is there a girl to young to rest
And lay her head on Jesus' breast?

Would the Holy Spirit come
Into a life so very young?
Or would He close and latch the door
'Til they had grown a little more?

No, He would touch the little child,
Not so, like us, by sin defiled,
And give the very smallest one
A spiritual gift, a song, a tongue.

'Tis not by age we enter in,
But by our closeness unto Him;
Stand back, disciples, make a way,
Let the children come today.

~ Nick Bowen

Thought for the day: I'm never closer to God than when I am in the company of children.

A Higher Knowledge

Scores have scaled the mountains of Tibet in search of knowledge. They have laid prostrate to the higher mind in hopes of gaining a knowledge of the deeper things. I'm privileged. I have had experiences that have given me an insight beyond my years. Listen my children and gather round and I will tell you that which I have learned.

A whole roll of toilet paper won't flush down the toilet.

The word "no" means absolutely nothing at all.

You can yell, but they won't hear you.

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pressed between two pieces of cardboard, will go into the VCR but it won't come out.

You can yell, but they still won't hear you.

Counting backwards from ten just gives them more time to do whatever it is they're doing.

A bottle of baby powder is hard to get out of furniture.

Play dough is a food group.

Glue is a food group.

A hug and an "I love you" can erase a whole day's worth of frustration.

They are angels, they just don't have their wings yet.

2 + 3 = 10

I had five children in my care. Two left because their mother is having a baby. (Congrats Caryn!!) Two more came in, and now I have ten. According to the laws of physics this can't happen, but we're not dealing with physics, we're dealing with children.

It's amazing how quickly they all became friends. It's also amazing how quickly I lost control. I ran a pretty tight ship. I had it down to a science. I had developed a mommy face; the expression that said it all. One look and there was silence or peace or everybody picked up the toys. But now, one look and all my little charges exchange glances and knowingly smirk and grunt out little laughs that say, "What's she mean?" They know what I mean. All at once there was mutiny. I am captive on the bow of my ship and the crew is manning the helm.

word of the day: coup- A brilliantly conceived and executable stratagem.