Finding A TreasureSample

Follow the Leader

Follow the way of love…

As parents and teachers we spend a lot of time teaching our children the best ways in life, and in doing so we use a lot of words. In fact, eighty percent of words spoken in the classroom are by the teacher. Even with - especially with - our own children, we desperately want them to learn so we talk and talk and talk, some would even say until we are blue in the face.

Yet, I’m not sure our words tell the whole story. I believe the old adage goes a long way toward telling us how children really learn: “Children do as you do, not as you say.” And truly, the best way to assess a child is by watching what he or she does.

The children watch how we respond in every situation - how we handle a crisis, whether or not we stand up for injustice, and a million other things they’re mentally noting. Our children and our students love us so much that they want to be just like us, so we better give thought to the example we’re living before them.

Every now and then God gives you a perfect example of this principle. I have one of the most faithful grandmothers helping in my class this year; she is a perfect example. Her little grandson is special in so many ways, and she has brought him to school and stayed there with him from the first bell to the last bell every day since he was in the three-year-old program.

Even at the age of 74, every day she’s found helping little people with their lunch trays or opening milk cartons. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, every day she makes the playground trip. Her conscientiousness amazes me. As an every day habit, she gathers lunch boxes and coats the children leave behind and brings them in each day. She’s one in a million and a walking, talking testimony of devoted help.

Recently we were very surprised not to see her at school and learned she had to be hospitalized for a few days. We all missed her, and her grandson was very sad. My heart was breaking for him, but the days had to go on, so out to recess we went.

Before long I blew the whistle for the children to come in, but I didn’t see her little grandson anywhere. I looked everywhere and still couldn’t find him. Finally, I saw him. I walked back to the end of the line, and there he stood with lunch boxes hanging off every limb - even his shortened arm.

I understood then. I understood that he had been busy following his grandmother’s footsteps. And I understood that truly our children do what we do - even when we’re not there.