This could be a very emotional day. This week, I’m making my final visits to the classrooms of 2017-18 first graders, 63 boys and girls who have grown before and in my eyes, children who have surprised me, challenged me, frustrated me, blessed me. I’ve made two of the visits already, taking the opportunity to try to impart a few more bits of wisdom and to pin a Winners Walk Tall badge on each child and teacher. I’ve been told that both of those classes will be visiting me today while I’m with the third group.
Seven-year-old people find such joy in surprises and in giving! Throughout the year, kids have presented me (or Telly the Dragon) with little misspelled notes, works of art in crayon, a dime, and MANY HUGS, showing their appreciation and love. At the end of each visit, with a little prompting from their teachers, they have thanked me – LOUDLY!
I hope to continue to see the boys and girls after today. They’ve been popping up at the mall, my grocery store, our church. I hope that someone will listen to them read the book I gave them and that they’ll come to love reading. I hope that each one has a safe and fun summer. As they move on to second grade, then third, then fourth, I may not recognize them any more, but I hope that they’ll remember the lessons we talked about and choose to walk tall in life.
This is the National Day of Prayer. I usually attend our city’s event, but not without a fight – with myself. With my Winners Walk Tall commitment following right after the noon observance of NDP, I hesitate to use the time and energy to find parking, deal with wind, sun or rain, and risk feeling unfocused as I head to the school. AND YET, could anything be more important than joining others in prayer for our country, its government and military, its businesses, its schools, and its families? A few minutes ago, a friend called to say she is saving me a seat. I’m going.
I’m back. The prayer meeting was well organized and well attended, and the weather was pleasant. It was a pleasure to hear The Ron Retzer Trio perform and to pray with those gathered in the name of Jesus. I was surprised by the men who fought tears as they gave thanks for the prayers of their mothers and blessed by the heartfelt biblical prayer offered by one of our pastors on behalf of families. I had to leave before Pastor Jerry Wenger’s message to have a bit of time before heading to the elementary school.
And they made me cry. Before Telly the Dragon and I could begin speaking to today’s class, the other two teachers brought their kids into the room and led them in singing the Winners Walk Tall theme to me. Their enthusiastic singing brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. I was presented with a beautiful flower planter and an amazing posterboard card signed by all. Then I had the opportunity to challenge them with a thought that had bloomed on the way to the school. “As you finish Winners Walk Tall, you can graduate to being a Hero! How many of you want to be heroes? How will you do it this summer?” We reviewed lessons by talking about making good choices. The other classes exited, and we held our pinning ceremony. Hugging ensued.
Loving my little neighbors. Being a Winners Walk Tall coach isn’t easy, but it’s good. When I compare what is required of me to the amazing day-in-day-out efforts of those first grade teachers, it becomes my pleasure and joy to support them in their work. Many families in our area are struggling. Kids may be hungry, brokenhearted, neglected, in harm’s way. I’ve requested a copy of Pastor Ratliff’s prayer for families so I can pray it in faith and love, having hope for their future.
What is God calling you to do? If you have a passion for meeting the needs of children, the elderly, veterans, teenagers, parents, prisoners, addicts, refugees, special needs folks, _____________, find a way, rely on God’s strength and leading and get started.
A couple of new songs have touched me, so I’m sharing links to the videos below.
Faith, Hope, and Love, Repeat – Brandon Heath
Dream Small – Josh Wilson (live, with his comments)
