how important these people are, we'll never ever ever know!

so it's birthday week at our house -- my lovely wife, kari, turned...should i insert age, i'll be no longer able to blog as my fingers will be broken off. (not really, but it's just not gentlemanly like to go exposing details about the love of your life in such a public forum!)...anyway, i had lunch with her yesterday at school. i was amused at the glazed over, 'i can't believe this day' look that all of the findley elem. teachers had. reminded me that plowing thru theology books and preparing myself to go tubing @ sleepy hollow with jr high kids isn't really all that hard. anyway, in honor of birthday week, we took her to school in the morning. so after school, we trip across town to pick her up. and she tells me the most amazing story...

there's a little girl in one of the classes she helps out in. super smart kid, also super shy. the class did a poetry reading/coffeehouse thing and invited the parents. well, this little girl's shyness kicks into overdrive when the parents around. they know this, and to everyone's amazement, they sit IN THE FRONT ROW for the poetry thing. so the little girl is fine until it's her time to read. she gets up, looks up, sees mom and dad, and bursts into tears. so the lead teacher has her go with kari out to the hall to calm down. to my recollection, the conversation went like this...

kari: "do you think you could try to go back in and read?"
girl: no words, just a head shake no.

kari: "you know, i used to get really nervous with my parents around. i used to have to not look at them, and i was ok."
little girl: no words, just big eyes looking at her.

kari: "do you think you could try again, only look at your paper. don't look up. and if you have to, look back at me. i'll be waving and smiling at you, ok?"
little girl: no words, just a head nod yes.

so they go back in, and the girl gets up, and reads her poem perfectly! the teacher in the room talked to kari afterwards, and they are hoping that this is an over the hump experience that will help this girl be able to deal with her shyness and stuff...

so, i'm bragging. i'll admit it. but, my wife rocks! more than that, though. ya see, she works in the public schools. and we talk often about how her job is a ministry. being there, investing in those kids, using what God has given her to do good for His sake in the world...total ministry. I'm blown away by it so often...it also makes me think of the teachers in my life that had a tremendous impact on who i am today...mrs. durst (2nd grade), mrs. van (4th grade), mr. hackbarth and primavera (hs science), and dr. dave mccaulley (uni prof)...these people shaped me in ways i can't explain, but taught me way more than just school stuff. they were instrumental (God thru them mind you!) in making me who i am today...

so today, ask your kids who their fave teachers are! and why! and take a minute to pray for them, that their impact would be realized and be far beyond what they can even begin to imagine it might be...