How can I help you?

How Can I help you?

How can I help you? Compassionate, empathetic teachers intuitively ask this question. School supplies, a warm coat, or snack is bought with their own resources because no child should be without. Time before school, during lunch or after school is routinely volunteered to help a struggling child. Teachers help even if they are not asked.

How can I help you? is a question asked thousands of times by a teacher we affectionately call “Mother Theresa.” Each year a young adult stands in my office asking if they can visit their former teacher. Where once stood a scared or struggling child now stands a confident young adult. They come back to share their latest accomplishment, their fiancé or a new baby. She greets them with the same smile they fondly remember from their fifth grade teacher.

“How can I help you?” is a question Mrs. Miller-Wiard asked a young lady this week. Her tender heart let go of the burden as she told her teacher “my mom caught cancer again and is having surgery.” How can I help you? The child looked at her teacher and said I don’t know who will help me with my paper route.

Without hesitation, Mrs. Miller-Wiard responded “I will help you with your paper route.” A simple act of kindness took place last night. A teacher drove a student around to help her and her sister deliver 300 papers. Income from the paper route helps the family meet their needs. I close my eyes and can see the smile on a little girl’s face.

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