I’d like to tell you about the greatest teacher I ever had.

Every day, she would get up at 5:30 a.m., make breakfast for her entire family, and get dressed before heading off to school. From her arrival at the elementary school around 7:30 to the time she left at 3:30 or 4 p.m., she poured her soul into every child who came within her orbit. Her sweet spirit was infectious. Her caring heart was felt. In short, to those little ones, she brought tranquility to their lives.

After school, that same teacher came home, cooked a bounteous supper, did the laundry, folded clothes, cleaned the house, took out the trash, washed dishes, and often served as mediator between father and son. She was indefatigable in service to her family. Negativity and complaining didn’t exist with her. Because she emptied herself and instituted a life of sacrifice for others, the focus was never on her. Quietly but powerfully, she modeled the life of Christ in a world whose current is running counter to the way of the Galilean.

Nothing in this life has impacted me more.

My mother taught me a great deal about life through her words, but she reserved her greatest instruction for what she did with her hands and feet. Leading by example and with unconditional love, she modeled the life of a disciple—one who, as my friend Greg Tinker says, “walks in the dust of the rabbi.”

You probably have a special teacher in your life. If you were to ask yourself, “Who has made an impact on my life?” it’s likely a teacher would be one of the first names to come to mind.

Anyone who has ever stood in front of a classroom will tell you that teaching school is more difficult than you think. Teaching is hard enough, but the pandemic has created unanticipated challenges that have taken a toll on our educators and our educational system. Simply put, many of our teachers are tired. And while every day is spent making the best out of the situation and adjusting to a new normal, they keep getting up every morning and serving our kids with a smile on their face.

So, the next time you see a teacher, I hope you’ll offer a simple word of encouragement. I hope you’ll thank them for their hard work and dedication to our young folks.

The hours may be 7-3, but the commitment is definitely 24/7. 78