Teachers of the World

To those who have been called,

To you teachers of boys and girls, and them all,

This is for you.

 

You aspire to teach and for them to learn,

You’re in it for the love, not the money that you’ll earn.

You join the trenches bravely with fire

And feel as if no one could crush your desire

To instill in them the wisdom of a learner’s heart,

But there comes that moment when dreams seem torn apart.

The passion is missing or buried away

Some place deep down and now you’re afraid

That the children will notice you’re not on your game,

When you just want to love them the same.

Well, hear this rally; hear this cry

And don’t let that fire within you die.

You were placed with a purpose onto this earth

That was evident to you at your soul’s rebirth;

You were brought to this place to breathe and to shine

In the lives of others this glory divine

That Christ possesses and gives unto us,

To share it with others, we must.

So hear these words when teaching gets hard

And all around you grows dark.

 

Your job is blesséd and you are blessed,

And you have been called, unlike the rest,

To mend the minds of our planet’s youth.

You are their source of truth.

So provide for them a comforting and burgeoning space

That lets them discover and explore, but feel safe.

Get to know their hearts and not just their names;

Be open and honest, and they’ll be the same.

Challenge and encourage them; stretch them beyond.

Give them the blocks to build their lives upon.

Instill in them the hunger to change and to grow

Into thoughtful men and women that don’t go with the flow.

Show them what it means to contribute to the world,

And that it can be changed by just a boy or a girl.

Find teachable moments that demonstrate morality,

Like lessons of humility, forgiveness, and hospitality.

Change mindsets and penetrate hearts.

Expose them to culture; let them create art.

Get them involved, engaged, and excited,

Show them their light and tell them never to hide it.

Connect to their lives; surge deeper still

And don’t let them off the hook until

You see that light bulb come on in their minds;

For them, it will click a million more times.

Strengthen, empower, lead, and guide;

These are the abilities God’s given you inside,

So exceed the norm; don’t be just another,

But love these children like your sister and your brother.

Be patient whenever you get the opportunity.

Wear a joyful countenance and garner positivity.

Equip every child not just to survive

But to excel, to outstand, to blossom, and to thrive.

These precious little ones are not the world’s zeroes;

No, you are teaching and inspiring heroes.

With you they will realize their strength to overcome

All the world throws at them, and then some.

So inspire, motivate, uplift, and extol.

Teach from the heart, and to the soul.

Be gentle, be kind, serve, and serve well,

In the classroom, on the playground, and after the bell.

Testify to truth, be washers of feet.

You’re a fisher of men, whomever you meet.

Be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,

Because Christ has picked you for his team, his squad.

Be rooted in His love and manifest His grace

As you train these children in righteousness.

Be a good steward for your work is not in vain,

So don’t hang your head, give up, or complain.

You are unmovable, the light of the world

And the children are flags about to unfurl.

Stay true to yourself and remain steadfast

And the impact you’re making will surely last.

For there is no law against love, my friends,

So abound in the work of God through the end,

And into the depths of their hearts you will reach.

So go, my fellow teachers, and teach.