Children Are Gifts From The Lord

“Certainly sons are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward” (Psalm 127:3, NABRE)

Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated in our Diocese from Jan. 29 through Feb 4.  I was very blessed to have attended eight years of Catholic school in my small hometown.  Back then, I had no idea how much that time would affect me in later years.  I understand now how it formed me, planted seeds and gave me the courage to get through the tough times – as well as preparing me to serve for 30 years in ministry.  I sent my daughter to this same school; it was such a positive experience for her that she ended up getting a degree in teaching.

“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it” (Proverbs 22.6, NABRE).

Time has a way of passing quickly, and I now find our oldest grandchild in Kindergarten. He did well in Preschool; there was  not a problem academically.  But he is painfully shy, and his Mother feared he would struggle with the social part of what school is about. I know she agonized over whether to send him this year. I went to God in prayer and felt good about encouraging her to send him now.

”Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

She had conversations with the teacher and principal, and came away feeling it was the right thing to do.  Although she would have loved to have sent him to the same Catholic school we both attended, it made more sense to send him to their home parish’s Catholic school. What a wonderful decision that has turned out to be!  

That little boy has come a long way in a short time.  He was made to feel welcome and accepted from the first day.  His teacher is encouraging, affirming and knows when to push him to do better without hurting those “tender” little feelings.  She is not just a teacher of subjects but a spiritual force in his life who has helped him to slowly step out of that shyness.  

The principal greets him each day and is patiently waiting for him to respond instead of just smiling at him!  The older students have been wonderful role models – from those who sat with him at Mass in the beginning of school (to help him feel more comfortable) to those who call him by name and make sure he has someone to play with at recess each day.  

The teachers, the secretary and the cafeteria ladies have all made him feel that he is an important of this school.  And I need to especially mention the music teacher who somehow got this shy little boy to sing loud and proud, doing hand gestures and smiling at the Advent program this year.  That has never happened in his five years of life when he was in public!  The tears ran down my face as I watched him performing because I know how far he has come. And that is because he has been nurtured, accepted and encouraged as one of God’s children.

I know all schools do a good job of educating the students, but I also know that Catholic schools, with God’s guidance,  give our children that sense of spirituality they need to help them in this tough world.  So a big thank you to all those who lead, teach or make these schools work for our children.  And especially to Holy Cross School in Ft. Branch, Mrs. Whitten and Mr. Hollis.  You have taken a shy little boy and started him on a path filling him with confidence and pride in who God has made him to be.  Let us all pray for the gift of Catholic schools and continue to do everything we can to make sure these schools are always there for our children!