I Will Fear No Evil

“Teacher?,” a gentle tug accompanied the words.  “Yes?” I answered looking down to see one of my kindergarten students, ready to see what they needed. “Teacher?.” The steady tug on my shirt continued. “Yes?” I responded again, noticing the student looking around the room rather than up at me.  “Teacher?”  The back and forth continued…

Bentley’s disconsolate eyes stayed fixed on the window. His body sagged over the arm of the chair as a discouraged “oompf” eased out of his mouth. He allowed me to distract him with games for a few minutes, then drug himself back to his vigil. We followed this pattern for hours. A brief joyful playtime…

“It’s mine!” the kindergarten girls both screamed at the same time. “She took it. It’s mine.” “No, it’s mine. I had it. I brought it from home.” I finally got them to stop talking and answer my questions one girl at a time. “Where did the eraser come from?  Who gave it to you?”  The…

Sobs leaked out of the play tent my then-3-year-old grandson commandeered as his sleeping quarters for Grandma camp. I peeked in. “Hey Buddy, I love you. Why are your crying? Because I said you earned a consequence for disobeying?” “No,” he moaned out. “I’m crying because I’m mad at myself!” Fifteen minutes earlier I gave…

What do I learn when I hang out with God? The same thing you learn when you hang out with your friends. Things like what kind of personality and character they have. Are they: –          sincere and believable? –          honest? –          trustworthy? –          hardworking –          an introvert or extrovert? –          kind and compassionate? –          Do…

My Dear Ninja Warrior, You have been dealt a blow. But I know you. You are a fighter who doesn’t give up. You fight for good, for justice, for truth. You fight that love might live. Wikipedia says a ninja was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan who used strategies that included espionage,…