Everyday Prayers for the School YearSample

May Their Teachers Speak Life

Early in the spring, I got “the call” from my son’s principal.

Not the kind of call saying someone was unkind to him. Instead, he had been mean to someone else and earned a visit to the principal’s office.

This time, he was in trouble for something he did, and his discipline was to write a note of apology to the child he had hurt since this was the first offense.

I sat down with the principal and my son to discuss what had happened, not knowing what to expect. Instead of speaking to me, she turned to my son, got down on his level, and began by saying, “Now, I know this isn’t the kind of kid you are….”

Over the next few minutes, I watched as she spoke life to his little heart. My eyes teared up, not because he was in trouble. He was—big trouble. But I felt a wave of appreciation and gratitude because even in this situation, the principal encouraged my son and spoke forward about who she knew he could be.

Throughout Jesus’s ministry, He often speaks to those around Him. He sees beyond what they have done to who they are capable of becoming, just as my son’s principal did that day.

I pray my children will have the kind of teachers and principals who speak with kindness. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24). Teachers who can speak a word of encouragement at just the right time can change a child’s course.

Many times throughout my school life, a teacher’s encouragement or discouragement made as much a difference in my final class grade as my ability. I’ve seen the same thing occur in my children’s lives. Several times, they have begun school struggling in a particular subject, but the encouragement and support of their teacher turned them around and helped them to grow and improve in that area.

My prayer for my children and yours is that they will have teachers who see past shortcomings, mistakes, and test scores to see our children’s value and potential and speak life. With these types of teachers, our children will have a better chance at success and grow up to be those who see the best and speak life to others, too.