Alliance for Catholic Education
The Bible has a lot to say about the bonds of love and devotion. Many verses speak about the perfect love that everyone should have toward their friends, family, and mankind, not to mention the Lord.
Corinthians 16:14 says: "Do everything in love."
And it sounds simple, right? But we all know it's not. As educators, of course we love our students, but do we always show it? How about to the ones who don't turn in their homework? Or the ones who misbehave and disrupt our lessons? Or the ones who bully other kids on the playground? Often, those are the children who need to see our love the most. Lord knows there were plenty of times where I struggled to push past my own frustrations with certain students who seemed to want anything but my love.
But we must remember that the child who misbehaves might be doing it because the last good meal he had was yesterday's lunch. Or his father was thrown in jail the night before for domestic violence and he witnessed the entire episode, and the only way for him to cope is to act out in class, with a person he loves and knows he can count on - his teacher. That bully in your class might be getting bullied by his parents and older siblings, and that's the only type of relationship he sees at home, and so, of course, he continues the cycle with his peers.
As we read the wonderful Bible stories throughout the Advent season, we'll see that THOSE kids...they are the type of people who Jesus sought out, because He knew that they needed His love the most. You see, it's easy to be kind to the child who comes to class prepared to learn every day and never gives you any problems.
But I challenge you to show extra love to the students in your classroom who push your buttons the most and make you wonder why you ever chose to become a teacher in the first place. In those transformative moments, those very students might show you that, in fact, THEY are the reasons you chose this amazing profession—to make a difference in the lives of the students who need it the most.
For just as Jesus showed so much love to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, he asks you to do the same for all of your students and I know you will.
Happy Advent, Merry Christmas, and go Irish!