Teaching God's Children

Sarah Wilde

McKay Student Ambassador

Special Education (Severe/Profound Disabilities Emphasis)

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Teaching can be a stressful career, so it is important to remember your "why". Your "why" is your reason for doing what you are doing. It's why you're here. My "why" comes down to one very simple principle: Everyone, regardless of age, experience, or ability, is one of God's Children. Remembering this gets me through the hard days and helps me to find joy in the journey. I would like to touch on a few reasons why this is so important to me.

Christ Loves the Children

Matthew 19:14 says, "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Christ always took the time for children, no matter how busy he was. Our students were his favorite people. If they were important to Him, they should be important to us! We must never view our students purely as test scores or numbers. They are loved by God and have beautiful futures. We can also learn from them as much as we teach them. After all, "of such is the kingdom of heaven"! If we can all humble ourselves and become as they are, the world can be a better place.

Christ Ministers to the One

There are countless stories of Christ taking the time to minister to just one person. While we may be teaching an entire group at once, we can never let a single student lag behind for too long. As a Special Education major, I have learned a lot about Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs. IEPs are made for single students to help them and their teachers keep that student on track. I think this system is beautiful because it ensures that "the One" is always remembered. "The One", no matter how much we struggle with them as an educator, is a beloved child of God.

Christ Helps Us Reach Our Full Potential

The McKay School's mission statement concludes by saying, "As faculty, staff, and administrators, we devote our minds and spirits to our work, so we can nurture the full potential in others—for the benefit of the world." We carry whatever skills and characteristics we gain in this life on to the next. Whatever we can teach our students now will begin their preparation for the world to come! It will also help the world as a whole now. I have often heard that the best way to get a people out of poverty is to educate their children. The better we can set our students up, the better they will be able to serve the world. Christ helped people to reach their full potential too. He took Peter, a fisherman, and turned him into a prophet. He turned Paul from a Pharisee into a missionary. He can take your students and turn them into amazing things, and you can assist in that process.

Helping our students can feel like a big responsibility, but through God's power we can help make their lives and the world better and more full. God loves your students, so don't be afraid to pray over them. Pray for His help and His guidance. Don't forget that He loves you too; you are also His child. You have a divine destiny, and you can be an instrument in His hands in helping others reach theirs.

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