¶ Welcome to Starting Right
Good morning and welcome to Starting Right with Danny Mac . I'm going to be here every Monday to Friday to help you get a great five-minute start to your day . So grab your cup of coffee , sit back , relax and let me help you start your day
¶ Thank You to Teachers
right . Good morning everybody . Today I would like to dedicate this episode to a very special group of people . I want to say thank you to all of you who are teachers . Whether you're teaching in public school or Christian school or homeschooling your children , you're giving them truth and encouragement .
That's helping them to become what they should and could be when they grow up . Teachers have a very special place in my heart . My dad was one . He taught for all of his adult life elementary school , high school and then eventually as an administrator in the board office .
He was heavily involved in school and teaching , and he believed in pouring truth into young people and trying to shape their lives . When I graduated from high school , I went off to university and my first
¶ Challenges Teachers Face
thought was to become a teacher as well . While I didn't wind up being a teacher , it still has a place in my heart and I teach in different ways other than in schools . My wife she's an education assistant . She works in elementary schools with primary age students and has done so for many years now . She loves it . She loves the children .
But I know also that it's not always easy being a teacher , particularly today . There are so many challenges that you face and so many restrictions , particularly if you are in public school .
Things that you cannot say and you cannot do , and things that they want you to say and they want you to do that you to do that don't really fit quite right with what you believe . There's a challenge for you there today , and yet you're still there because you love the children and you care about what happens to them .
There are many challenges for teachers right now , no matter where you're teaching at home or in a Christian school or on a public school the challenges are very real there for you , and so I have just one verse for you today to help you , because I
¶ The Kindergarten Boot Story
know it's not always easy . It can be tremendously rewarding , but it's not always easy . The verse is found in Hebrews 10 , verse 36 . It tells us that patient endurance is what you need now so that you will continue to do God's will . Teachers , you need that patient endurance every day .
I know it's not always fun , I know it's not always easy , but I know as well that , for most of you , your heart goes out to many of the children that you work with and you love being able to impact their lives , and God has placed you where you are so that you can do exactly that .
I have a story for all of you teachers today that I think many of you will be able to relate to . At least the primary school grade teachers you will be able to relate to this story today . I think you will really like it . It's about a young kindergarten student named Jason .
His teacher saw him one day struggling to get his boots pulled on and he asked his teacher to help him . Well , it was easy to see that he needed help because , with her pulling and him pushing the boots , still didn't want to go on .
When the second boot was finally on , she had really started to work up a sweat and she almost whimpered when Jason said teacher , they're on the wrong feet . Whimpered when Jason said teacher , they're on the wrong feet . She looked and sure enough they were , and it wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on .
She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on , this time on the right feet . And then he announced these are not my boots . She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream Jason , why didn't you say so , like she wanted to ? And once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off of his feet .
Then he looked up at her and said they're my brother's boots . My mom made me wear them today . She didn't know if she should laugh or cry . She mustered up all of the grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots back on his feet again . Then she said now , jason , where are your mittens ?
¶ Words of Encouragement
Jason lifted his sweet face up to her and said I stuffed them in the toes of my boots . You got a feel for that , teacher . You really do , and I believe that virtually every teacher on the planet has a story somewhat similar to this one how a child was able to bring them to the verge of tears and laughter at the same time .
Kids can do that , and those of you who have dedicated your lives to speaking truth into these young children , I pray that God will bless you and work through you and give you insight and wisdom as to what to say and how to say it , so that the important truths get in and these children will never forget some of the things that you've said and done for them
. So today , teachers , I honor you for all of the good things you're doing , the love , the grace , the mercy , the wisdom and the understanding that you show every day and you pour into the lives of these young people . God bless you . Remember what God's Word says Patient endurance is what you need now , so that you will continue to do God's will .
I hope you have a wonderful day , my friends , and we will talk again tomorrow . Thank you for listening today and I invite you to join me Monday to Friday , right here on Starting Right with Danny Mac .