Teacher Appreciation

I started my day at the weekly chapel service at Shimmer and Shine's school this morning. I sat just a few rows behind them, fighting back tears. How hard it is to fathom what the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School are facing this Christmas and all that follow. The advent candle for Joy was lit this morning.

joy...

News like this leads me to lose faith in mankind. My heart knows we cannot lean on our understanding though, and I will never lose faith in our Heavenly Father. God hear our cries of anguish and please show us how to pray for these families...

A representative of our local police stopped at our school office this morning lending their support. It was comforting and frightening all at the same time and tears welled again. Bless them, our teachers and staff.

Over the past couple weeks, I've had a few friends ask me for ideas of Christmas gifts for their children's teachers. Today seems like the day to share some of those... I hope you have time this week to do something, or at the very least, personally thank the teachers in your family's life for this most important role they fill. May these images give you inspiration and if you want more details on any I'll be glad to help you find the original links.

In closing, I often find comfort in hymns and today is no different, this is the lullaby my heart is playing for Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeleine, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Avielle, Benjamin, Allison, Anne Marie, Dawn, Rachel, Lauren, Mary, Victoria and Nancy.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
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After school today Shimmer and Shine chose a book from their advent pile. It turned out to be this wonderul folktale... The Tale of Three Trees.

What a beautiful reminder that God has plans for each one of us and never loses sight of any of his children or their dreams.