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Lessons from a Fourth Grader

       I woke up on Wednesday morning feeling a lot of anxiety. I was stressed, overwhelmed, tired, and just having a hard time being back to reality after Thanksgiving break. The feelings didn't let up when I got to school, and I started wondering how I was going to make it through the day.
   
    I had morning duty, and my post was where the 5th and 6th graders wait for the bell, which is right by the cafeteria and the main door where the students come in. One of my students saw me as he was coming out of the cafeteria after breakfast. He came up to me and asked if he could stay with me and help me. I decided talking with this student was preferable to going through my lengthy to do list in my head, which wasn't exactly helping me much, so I told him he could. He turns to me and goes, " Miss Freeman, I have an idea! Every time I see someone from our class walk by I'm going to tell them that they should stay here and help you too! Can I?" I was like, "knock yourself out buddy!"
 
    I watched this little boy vigilantly look down the hall for any students from our class. Each time one would walk by, he would call out their name and tell them to come over and wait with us. It was amazing to watch them each have the same reaction to his sweet invitation. Their faces would light up with a smile as each one of them came and joined the little group. By the time the bell rang, he had gathered half of our class. It was probably more of a distraction than a help, but I certainly wasn't going to send them away. As I talked with my students and saw the love they had for each other, the love I have for them overpowered my anxiety and I felt it just melt away.
 
    This fourth grader's example reminded me of what this Christmas season is all about. We are surrounded every day by people who are struggling or having a hard time, whether we know it our not. Something as small as saying hello or showing love to them in even just a simple way can make a world of difference. Reaching out and serving others is what the Savior would be doing if He were here. What better way is there to honor Him this Christmas season than to emulate his example, just like this sweet fourth grader did!


Comments

  1. Royal and Carolyn ShippDecember 3, 2017 at 7:24 PM

    What a tender post Sarah. You touched my soul and made my day. Thank you my dearest grand daughter.

    ReplyDelete

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