Dear teacher,
Today I relinquish my precious children into your care. Do you know how important you are to me? To them? From this day forward, you are a valuable force in what defines them. You will encourage or discourage, inspire or disappoint, empower or dishearten, engage or mislead, expect or neglect, fulfill or deplete…
These young innocent lives I have placed in your hands.
Your role is significant as it will either propel my kids forward or pull them back. Much of their life will revolve around you. Your character will resonate in them, and your values will slowly slip into their hearts as they watch you and learn from you each day. Your words, your manners, your voice, and your message will constantly penetrate their existence. You will be at the center of their lives, during a time of critical development and growth. Oh, how fragile a child’s spirit is…
May you breathe hopeful air into their souls.
As you concentrate on test scores and skill levels, may I remind you of your greatest calling with children?
To grace them with potential and promise.
For only one statement to a child can change the course of a child’s life.
How many times I have heard how a teacher’s word compelled someone to follow a dream. How many times I have heard a person battle the negative message from a teacher throughout a life of questioning their worth?
Your role will make a difference. Your purpose will prevail and you will be an integral part of their future. You will also hold a piece of their history. You will leave a lasting imprint on their hearts and in their minds. And with that truth, may you hold true to your calling.
Every day that you go to work, I hope you can remind yourself that you are not teaching a “class”, but rather a group of unique individuals with different needs and dreams and fears and faults. May you stretch hard and reach far to touch each life with a loving hand and an insightful heart. May you realize the power you hold, and may God use you in a mighty way…
You have their potential and promise in the palm of your hands. It will be up to you to give them these gifts.
I will be praying for you every day.
Most Sincerely and ever passionately,
Every parent.
I hope you send this in to their teachers – this is beautiful 🙂
I sent it to the principal of the kids’ school last year and she shared it at a teacher’s meeting in the beginning of the year!! I think I need to send it to Cassidy’s middle school this year perhaps… 🙂
Worth a go innit 🙂
It certainly is! Couldn’t hurt right? 🙂
Beautiful teacher letter and should be the letter given to all teachers from parents on the first day of school, because you said it so beautifully and perfectly here (exactly what I would want to say and share about my children to the person taking care of them while I am not there for a whole year in the school setting). So, seriously loved this so much Chris and of course I love you tons, too!! 🙂 xoxo!!
Thanks so much sweet friend!! OH, how I pray they realize how powerful their role is in our children’s lives! It’s HUGE really…
I so love this post, Chris. I am FB friends with an English teacher I had that was so integral in my becoming a writer. Teachers are amazing.
They really can make THE difference. Such a powerful role they play! I had an English teacher inspire me as well… can’t even remember his name, but BUT oh how I remember his words!! 🙂
Amen amen amen!
And the choir sang, “AMEN!!” 😉 XOXO
Love this! As a teacher, I can only hope that someone is praying for me as I begin the school year. 🙂
Ginny – done! Consider yourself prayed for! 🙂
I will be praying among many for you and all those who set out on this amazing and profound calling, Ginny!! God BLESS YOU as you go forward, my friend! Happy new year!
I needed it shared again. ESPECIALLY this year. Our big day is so coming. So coming!
I know honey!!! Your sweet Scarlet will SOAR and THRIVE!!! I just know it! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this again, as it’s my first time reading it. Will be adding teachers to my prayer list tonight.
They deserve and need our prayers Katie. They have an amazing calling and privilege!
This is great, Chris. And true. From the teacher side, I always kept these very things in my mind when dealing with students and their parents. Teachers are not perfect – just human – but it is a huge responsibility to have those children, no matter the age, in your care each day. And from the mom side, I pray so hard every day that Zilla’s teachers remember these things. It’s not always been as true as I’d like, perhaps, but…teachers are not perfect. And so as we begin this year, my prayers are with all of them – the teachers, the kids, the moms and dads…may all work together for the best possible outcome for everyone.
AMEN to all of what you said Lisa!! SO true. 🙂
Great comments… as a 30 year teacher of high school students I pray everyday that God work through me in order to reach the kids in some way. So lucky to have parents like you who believe in the power of an educator’s impact…
I love you sister! YOU have made a difference in COUNTLESS lives… That is something you should be so proud of. <3 XOXO
This is so wonderful! My kids have had some great teachers who have really made a difference in their lives, and I will be forever grateful to them for that!
It’s really amazing the influence teachers have (for worse or better) on our kids. On us! I still have lasting effects from my teachers too… They can truly make a difference. 🙂
This is very touching. Ignites the flames of my desire to be a preschool teacher once again. Thank you for this good read.
How thoughtful of you Chris! This will not only make the teachers happy but be inspired as well. Maybe I should do something like this for Teachers Day here in the Philippines. 🙂
So beautiful!
Oh this is beautiful, as always! I hope so many teachers read this!!
Thanks Tricia! I wish every teacher could read this- just to remind them how important their life calling truly is. The impact they have on their students can be life changing…
Love, love, love. I found a note my fifth grade teacher had written to me, and it brought tears to my eyes. I still remember the impact a year with her had on me, and I hope she knows how very important her job was.
That is EXACTLY what I mean, Dana! I too, have a few teachers that have left that lasting imprint on my heart and have truly launched many of my dreams. I hope your fifth grade teacher knows how she made such a difference in your life!
Glad you shared this again- I love it!
Thanks friend. I think I want to share it annually- because this message will never grow old.
We are on the same page today! I love this, especially “Every day that you go to work, I hope you can remind yourself that you are not teaching a “class”, but rather a group of unique individuals with different needs and dreams and fears and faults.” So very true.
Exactly Jennifer! Oh, how these teachers have a lasting a lingering impact on our children’s lives! I do hope and pray they know they can make a huge difference. What a powerful calling…
So beautiful! It’s how we all feel. It’s heart wrenching to let them go, and SO much faith and trust is put into those teachers. One of my closest friends is a teacher, and I KNOW how hard she works. It’s not easy.
Thanks Meredith. I am always in awe of teachers and their amazing ability to have a lasting impact on my kids’ lives. I truly want them to know how much I appreciate them, and to remind them how powerful and profound their mission is in this world of education.
This reminder to pray for our kids’ teachers is perfect, beautiful and so needed. Thank you. I had forgotten the importance of this…
Yes my friend!! Definitely something you can do while you are going through this difficult season of letting go!! It gives me peace to pray for the ones who are stepping in for us for a good part of our kid’s day. Hang in there sweetie!!!