In honor of teachers

In honor of teachers

As usual, 31st August is dedicated to celebrating Teachers' Day in school - the usual concert and gifts from students, lunch from the Parents' Support Group, and then it's a day off for the rest of the day, and tomorrow too! =)

It's good that there's a day set aside each year for us to honor our teachers - those who have taught us, or those who had inspired and impacted our lives. It feels funny that in school I'm considered a teacher (though not formally one as I don't teach subjects but take charge of the Christian aspects of the school plus CCA) and I get gifts and wishes from students too, but when I'm at theological college, I'm a student and I myself give gifts/cards to my teachers/lecturers =) Sounds somewhat funny and "weird" *wink*

My school has a tradition of honoring teachers of teachers - each year, the younger teachers who come back to the school to teach will take time on this special day to honor teachers who had taught them before during the celebration. This is also our way of teaching the students what respect is - that respect for teachers don't just end when we leave school, or when our teachers leave us. Respect is life-long.

Personally, I feel that it's a privilege to be in the ministry of teaching - having the chance to inspire lives and to impart/share what God has taught us. Maybe that was the reason that kept me going for the last 15 years, from teaching Sunday School classes to being involved with Youth Ministry and Cell Groups, and now working in a school context. 1 Corinthians 4:2 reminds us that "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." - what is the "trust" that we who are given this teaching privilege must prove faithful in?

Ivan Welton Fitzwater wrote "The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good or bad. Several future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of the next decades, and so are all the so-called ordinary people who will make the decisions in a democracy. I must never forget these same young people could be the thieves and murderers of the future. Only a teacher? Thank God I have a calling to the greatest profession of all! I must be vigilant everyday, lest I lose one fragile opportunity to improve tomorrow."

Each life is precious - for all are created unique and special by God. We cannot afford to be careless with the lives entrusted to our care - that's why I choose to be not just a teacher/mentor to my girls, but a friend too. I enjoy those moments when they will just drop by my office and rattle off their problems, confide their troubles and fears, and sometimes even sharing nonsensical talks/jokes - but one taboo my girls know that is, in my presence, there is absolutelty no using of vulgarities, especially the "Sugar Honey Ice Tea" word. *wink*

I'm thankful to God too for giving me wonderful lecturers in theological college - lecturers who are also like friends - haha, I've even invited a couple of them to visit my blog too =) Thanks for sharing your experiences and convictions with us - reminding us theological education is not just about the intellect, but a spiritual journey - and cautioning us not to toe the line but to be bold for the works of the Lord.

Once again, let us be reminded, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." - 1 Corinthians 4:2. Indeed, may we truly be found faithful for the works of the Lord ...

Find Us Faithful (Words & Music by Jon Mohr, sung by Steve Green from "People Need The Lord" album)
Verse 1

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Verse 2
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
Chorus
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Verse 3

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Repeat Chorus

For all who are teaching - have a blessed Teachers' Day!