A Teacher’s Prayer

School begins today. I am excited for the new year.

My classroom is ready, and so am I. As I sit behind my desk, awaiting my students, I pray. “Good morning, Father! Thank You for this brand-new school year. Thirteen lively boys and girls will enter my classroom this morning. Several are returning students, but a few are first-time students at this school. A handful will be excited to be back, to be learning new things. Most will think it’s another boring year in school (their thoughts, not mine).

Some will work hard at their studies and do well.

Others will work even harder and will still have a hard time. But all of them will walk through my doors as Your children. “I pray that You will give me the ability to alleviate the new-student jitters. Show me how to motivate and spark the interest of the disinterested learners. Please make this an anything-but-boring school year. Father, I need the energy to keep up with the live wires and the calmness to reach the quiet ones. Provide me with the wisdom to know how to get through to the student who is having difficulty understanding his math assignment. Equip me with a brain that can come up with ideas to help a student figure out what to do for her science project. Most of all, Father, please give me Your love for these children.

Help me to see them through Your eyes.

Help me to recognize when a student has had a rough night and no sleep. Help me to be a friend to the lonely child on the playground.

Give me the patience to explain a concept for the fourth time to the one who does not understand what he is doing. Give me the words to encourage the child who is frustrated because he has done the same problem five times and come up with five different answers—all of which are wrong. Give me a listening ear, a watchful eye, and a soft but commanding voice. I ask for Your light to shine through me so that my students see You when they look at me. Thank You, Father, for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen.” And now, I hear the murmur of voices in the hallway. I smile. Let the learning and the fun begin! It is going to be a great year!

Kathy Pepper