Joy of a Child

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord..."--Psalm 127:3

When I made the decision to pursue Special Education as my career, I knew it had the potential to be quite an emotional career. There's a number of reasons it could be that way but so far, from my two short years of teaching, I've come to find that the toughest part that I personally face is when it's time for them to move on to the next school! Most of the time, I have my students for two years, their 2nd and 3rd grade year and I love that about my job. I get to watch them grow not only academically but, emotionally, physically, behaviorally, and socially. I proudly watch them make friendships and foster those over this two year time span. I come to really care for (appreciate) their true personalities and even experience those personalities change and mature as the years press on. I get to really invest in their lives for two years--and so far, it has been such a blessing and has done so much good for my heart! 

Even though they move on to the next school, I know I'll be able to keep in touch and check on them through the years. That's one of the joys of working in such a small school district. I also know that they will be in good hands and under teachers who care for them just as I do. It's the calm that I have in the storm of them growing up and moving on. But, when they move to a completely different school or even more so, a different state, that's when it gets me! In an instant there goes my link to a child that I've spent the past year (or two) investing in and caring for. My assistants and I always say how the best/hardest part of our job is how attached we get to the kiddos. It's impossible not to! Even the one's that drive you bonkers! Each and every one of the 16 students that I've taught thus far have touched my life in some way or another. It's so funny, and you will hear teachers say it all the time: we are teaching them but they are also teaching us in so many ways and they don't even know it! 

With all of that being said, yesterday I had my last day (his family is moving) with one little guy that I've shared life with the past two years. I feel the need to share a little bit about him with you all so you can get a little glimpse of the many blessings I reap from my job. I can promise you that what I share won't even scratch the surface of how much good he's done for my heart!

I can remember the first time I ever met him. It was my very first open house as a brand new teacher, waiting in my newly decorated classroom to meet my very first set of students and their parents. In walks this tiny, little, boy dressed to impress and with the squeakiest voice I had ever heard! The first words out of my mouth were: "Oh man, he's a cutie" and his mother quickly responded, "Oh yes! But don't let him fool you!" They were brand new to the school district, as was I, and I knew we were in for a year. I always thought of him as "my guy" because he was brand new to Pearl the same year I was and we conquered our new territory together.

I could easily go on, and on, and on about him. I could show you hundreds of pictures and dozens of videos to give you just a taste of how full of life, humor, and joy he is. But instead, for my own sake (because I've done so good about not losing it thus far), I am going to share just a little bit about him and the things people love about him. 

First thing I realized was that he was a talker! Oh boy, could he talk--to ANY and EVERYONE! That first day of school I don't think I could have fathomed just how much of an impact he would make on not just me, but all kinds of people at the school just by talking to them. 

With that being said, he is the biggest people person you will ever meet. During our free time he never wanted computer, never wanted to watch a movie or read a book, he would be found at one of our desks just wanting to talk--telling jokes, talking about sports, asking our favorite restaurants and gas stations, asking about highways and exits, talking about trucks and cars, wanting to go to Taco Bell or Church's--investing in me. The same goes for our mornings when we would take the absentee to the office. We had a routine and a list of people we HAD to see each morning. My favorite part about that is that NO MATTER who it was that he saw he was just as excited as he was over the last person. He made you feel so important and so loved and you could see/feel the genuine happiness he had in just getting to talk to you! You will never meet someone who loves football more than him. He could get so worked up over someone arguing with him who the best team was--in his mind it was his team or no team. Loyalty at its best! Sports fanatic to the max. This little thing was smart as a whip. Had a memory like no other and amazed me with it daily. I saw so much progress in him over the past two years and it was such an encouragement to me as a teacher. 

He would look at me and tell me he loved me at least once a day. He would tell me I was his best teacher ever. He has the sweetest, most pure heart I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. 

With yesterday being his last day, I want to try and paint a little picture of it for you to show a glimpse of the impact he made. 

He started the day being escorted in by his bus driver and 3 best friends on the bus. They all wanted to walk with him one more time. I had fellow students of his stopping by all throughout the morning wanting to hug him and tell him goodbye (word travels fast!). We had our Relay for Life walk and some of the Mississippi Braves players came to walk with us--who was smack dab in the middle holding two of their hands?--yep, you guessed it. His day was made just with that alone! At lunch teachers were stopping by and giving him hugs telling him how much they would miss him. We had a yearbook going around the school as a going away gift for him and I can't tell you how many people wanted to sign it--to let him know how much they cared and how missed he was going to be! We had a surprise party for him at 1:00 and even I was overwhelmed with how many people stopped by. He was given all sorts of gifts, more hugs than you could imagine, it was SO AMAZING to see the out pour of love for this one little boy. I have tears in my eyes as I think about the appreciation and joy that I saw on his parents face as they took in the constant flow of people coming to love on their son one last time before he went on to change the world in another area! It couldn't have been a better day. I wanted him to know he was going to be missed and I wanted him to know how much people loved him and I can assure you that he left our school happy and with his head held high, knowing that he was deeply loved. 

 Ohhh, how we will all miss this little nugget! But boy, be expecting great, big things from him!!

As I mentioned earlier, he is not just a happy child, he is a JOYFUL child. I remember about 3 years ago my dad doing a sermon on the difference in happiness and joy and writing this post today took me back to that sermon. I have to share with you some of what he said: 

"The first characteristic of faithful, effective ministry is JOY.

"There is a difference in JOY and HAPPINESS.  Happiness is a feeling that is based on what happens to you, it is conditional and it is very self centered when it comes down to it.  Joy is not based on external circumstances. It is a choice of attitude.  It is gladness based on a firm and personal confidence that God is in control of your life.  It is totally internal and it is something that grows in you as you live/suffer for Christ."

I don't know about you, but after hearing Dad say that...I was on joy's side. Now that I think about it though--how many times have I ever even thought of the JOY in my life?  I can tell you, I don't think I've ever used the term joy to describe anything in my life.  I have used the word happy.  "I am so happy," "Oh, I was so happy to get that," "Oh my, that makes me so happy,"(you get the picture)

Hearing joy being described in this manner made me long for that.  It is something that lasts and something that only gets better.

This young man has joy and it is as contagious and humbling as one can imagine. 8 years old and he is more full of joy than any other person I know. It's natural for him, he doesn't have to force it or look for it. He makes it happen in everything that he experiences. I love that. I am forever changed by that.  Who knew that an 8 year old would be such a testament?!

There's a portion in Matthew 18 when the disciples asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" and Jesus calls a child over to him and puts the child in the midst of all the disciples that were asking that question and says to them: "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"--Matthew 18:3-4

Jesus says that CHILDREN are the GREATEST in the kingdom of heaven--what more of an honor could it be to go through life with these children and see life the way they do and to be reminded DAILY of how Jesus wants us to believe?! It's such an honor. 

This student was that child. I know (and saw yesterday) that he did that for so many people--teachers and students alike. He helped us all to humble ourselves and appreciate, even just for a moment, life through his eyes. He will never fully know what a blessing he is to me and I will forever praise and thank God for allowing our path's to cross! I am so thankful that God placed the desire in my heart to teach, to be reminded daily of the fact that I need to humble myself like a child! Something that is so hard for an adult to do. 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!