Joy



Do we teach so others learn? Do we teach so we learn? I often wonder if I am here to help children learn life changing lessons or am I here to learn life changing lessons from the tender hearts of precious children. Precious children sent to touch our hearts.

Children truly teach me more than I will ever teach them. Life lessons taught by resilient children inspire me. I feel blessed to learn from children who approach life obstacles with zeal and optimism.

A few years ago, a kindergarten child was hospitalized after a playground accident. I never look forward to visiting someone in the hospital. I feel helpless. Fortunately, my young kindergarten friend made a full recovery.

The elevator stopped a few floors below my destination. The doors opened. My heart sank as a young girl, about the age of my son, entered the elevator. She walked with two IV trees. Her hair was patchy. I tried my best to smile.

Her spirit was infectious. She greeted everyone in the elevator and her smile was from ear to ear. She talked non-stop to her friend. She laughed. When the elevator reached my floor I smiled and said have a nice day.

Before the door closed, I could hear the young girl’s friend say “Joy you talk to everybody ……are you always so happy.” The door closed to sound of giggling young ladies.

Joy! I couldn’t stop thinking about this young girl. Her character was reflected in her name. She truly made her day joyful.

I was struggling through an implementation dip the day I met Joy. We all have moments when we feel overwhelmed. Joy was not overwhelmed. She was truly joyful.

How could a young girl facing a life threatening challenge have joy? We all know children with a joyful heart. They have a joyful heart even though they face daily hardships.

Blessed are the young. Blessed are those who learn from young tender hearts.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oxley's World

Dear Friends, I have joked for many years that I am going to write a book someday titled "The World According to Oxley." My brother laughs at the thought and my wife just shakes her head. I must agree that the thought of an ADD learning disabled knucklehead like me writing a book would make most of my former teachers fall over in amazement. This blog is dedicated to teachers in my life who saw beyond my ADD and learning disability to nurture me, inspire me, and challenge me, and also to the children who always teach me more than I will ever teach them. I share this blog with you and encourage you to be a contributor. Share this opportunity with your colleagues. Teaching is a challenging calling. It is important that we share the moments when we know we touched the heart and mind of a child. More importantly, it is essential that we share the moments that children make us smile, make us cry, and inspire us. The "World According to Oxley" is based on the simp...
Read more

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day Hallmark doesn’t sell a card suitable for my Mom. Simple poetic verses by American Greetings are inadequate. You simply can’t buy a card that eloquently says what my Dad knew best. My Dad knew that Mom was the reason that we had a good life. You can’t describe my Mom without mentioning my Dad. eHarmony.com would never had put my parents together, but later on this year if the creek doesn’t rise they will celebrate their 50 th wedding anniversary. What they have is a partnership that capitalizes on the uniqueness each of them brought to their marriage. I never spent one day in doubt that my parents loved each other. My Dad always put my mom first and expected my brother and I to follow suit. My Mom sacrificed. She went with out. In my 48 years, only two sofas and one recliner were in her living room. New things were just not important. She wore the same winter coat for years, but her kids always had a new jacket. My Mom wen...
Read more

A Craftsman

On Monday,  J. Michael Hayfield set his tools down.  He swept up the dust and chips that the collection system missed.   He smiled knowing he had completed his work with the art and science of a master craftsman.  J. Michael reached up and turned off the shop light for the last time.   Long before formal mentoring programs were established a mentor was earned.  A young person worked and earned the trust and loyalty of someone who was willing to teach them the ways of a master craftsman.  J. Michael Hayfield, assistant superintendent, decided I was worthy of being mentored. J. Michael and I share a lot in common.  We are working class kids who had to fight and prove ourselves along life’s path.  We both married woman who hated us when we first met and told us to date them we would need to change.  He saw in me the fire for wanting to get ahead and make a difference. J. Michael provided me with opportunities to lear...
Read more