By Joanna George
This week’s “Embracing Faith” article will focus on Embracing Faith through Prayer.
Today is National Teacher Day.
Since 1953, people throughout the United States have celebrated National Teacher Day and showed their appreciation to all teachers for the impact that they have had on the youth of America. (1)
This day originated when a teacher from Arkansas wrote to former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and requested it would be observed. Shortly after receiving this letter, the 81st Congress of the United States would proclaim a National Teacher Day. (1)
As of May 2012, there are nearly 1 million teachers in the United States teaching over 58 million students in elementary and secondary schools. (1)
Today, take a moment to show your gratitude for the women and men who have educated us throughout the years and are impacting the youth of America with prayer.
1. God, your spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us your ways.
Look upon these teachers.
Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience
and endeavor always to bring the truth to eager minds.
Grant that they may follow Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, forever and ever.
Amen. (2)
2. Dear God,
Grant our teachers an abundance of your wisdom.
Prepare their hearts to welcome and love our loved ones,
and may we make sure to show them love and respect in return.
Give them grace as they help students who aren’t thriving,
courage to say what needs to be said,
tools and knowledge on how and when to speak love,
and strength when they feel weak.
When they feel unseen, remind them that no moment goes unnoticed.
They are shaping the future in one million small –
yet incredibly important – ways every day.
We are overwhelmed with gratitude
for the gift of learning they share with our children.
Bless them and may they see even just a glimpse
of how their faithfulness will forever impact generations to come.
Amen. (2)
3. God of Love, thank you for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift.
Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides.
Thank you for teachers who expect much and love enough to demand more.
Thank you for the special teacher each one of us remembers.
God of Mercy, Sustain teachers who give everything they have
and feel abandoned when society expects too much.
Strengthen teachers who assume the blame
for so many problems beyond their control.
Help exhausted teachers rest.
God of Strength, Encourage teachers to care and inspire them to nourish.
Motivate teachers to keep on learning for the fun of it
and to make learning fun for children.
We wonder at teachers who know how to quiet a class of five-year-olds
or help fourth-grade girls be empathetic.
We admire teachers who enjoy middle school writers,
or teach physics or math or civics.
We cannot even imagine how to help
every single student achieve Adequate Yearly Progress.
Bless the people who are expected to accomplish
these miracles and who know how to comfort children when miracles don’t happen.
God of Justice, help our nation find a way
to steward our vast wealth to support teachers in their special calling,
wherever they teach and whatever the race or religion or gender or wealth of the children.
We pray these things in the name of our great teacher, Jesus Christ.
Amen. (3)
4. God, your spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us in your ways.
Look at these teachers. Let them strive to share their knowledge
with gentle patience and endeavor always to bring the truth to eager minds.
Grant that we may follow Jesus Christ,
the Way, the Truth, and the Life, forever and ever. (4)
Joanna George is a senior at Tappan Zee High School and completing her Senior Seminar Internship project with the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York.