A few months ago a beautiful bright eyed boy walked down the hall and he really did not want to let go of his Grandma's hand and stay with me, but after his Grandma whispered something in his ear he reached for my hand and let me take him to the table. His shyness just melted away. He looked up at me and said "Miss Tammy, you teach-ed my Mommy". And yeah, I did. When she was in kindergarten as a matter of fact. This marks the 22nd year. I have had 4 and 5 year olds and for a few years I was the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girl teacher. Then I re-acquired the boys of those grades. Then our church moved to a rotation model for children's and I switched back and forth and once a month every child aged 4 to grade 5 had "Miss Tammy" for Bible story. For the last two years I have had 3rd through 5th grade boys and girls again.
I was lucky enough to be blessed by God withone child by birth, two by marriage and hundreds through my church family. Recently when I was out to dinner I ran into one of them who will be getting married in May. I previously blogged about one of them who grew up to be a nurse and volunteered and went to Haiti after the earthquake last year. Many of them are still a part of my life on a regular basis. I love everyone of those children and I'm thankful for them. When one young woman after returning from a youth mission trip after she'd moved on from the children'sdepartment was giving her testimony from the trip she said... "Miss Tammy taught me the importance of sharing God and I will carry that with me always." I'm a little teary right now remembering that moment, knowing I had impacted her life in such a positive way. At the time I sat in the church pew (right side pew 7 from the front) and squalled like a baby.
I'm really Thankful every day for each child that passes through my class. I can tell you that they have helped me more than I have helped them. I took a "break" once when church politics clouded my mind and I felt pushed from my church. Those children made cards and sent them to me telling they needed me and wanting me to come back and teach them. That also makes me cry right now. And of course now whenever church "politics" start pushing I read those cards (those children have all moved on to the youth department) and I remember it's teaching children the Bible that is MY mission in that church and I will not be stopped by the devil or the politics. Those children are a gift to my life and I treasure them. This is a photo from a few years ago on Easter, but three of those little girls are still in my class now. Others will be in future years classes again.
I am so blessed with the wonderful life I have the children who have touched my heart and life. I can't imagine not getting up on Sunday morning and going to look into the eyes of the children in my life. And when my Donald started his new job he took on a supporting role in teaching the class with me. I know the boys are so glad to have him there. It's a way that I give back to a community that has given me so much.
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