Imagine you are a teacher, hearing these words...
"Thank you so much for always being there to talk whenever anyone needs it and for putting all of your heart and time into all you do. You have inspired and influenced countless people and your talent is outstanding! Thank you for all you've taught me over the years!"
Or how about this message of gratitude...
"Thank you for being so kind and caring! You are so funny and energetic and I love that so much! I look forward to your class every single day! You make me so happy and for that I will forever be thankful!"
Believe it or not, these are actual messages written to ACSD teachers from some of their students... and they are just a few of many more! This week I'm honored to share with you their words of thankfulness, and I pray they are an inspiration to you. The students were invited to think of a teacher or staff member who has touched their heart in some way, someone they would like to thank, and they wrote out messages of thankfulness to them.
You'll notice that some messages are longer than others, and all of them are unique in some way. As I read their heartfelt words, I wonder: if Jesus said, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me"... could it be that when we give thanks to another person, in a way we are giving thanks to Jesus Himself? Could saying thank you to a person be a way of praying?
Maybe sometimes we hold back from saying thank you to someone because "we don't have the right words" or maybe we think our message is too small or too simple. But if you think of yourself on the receiving end of any of these student messages, I think you would agree that all of them bring joy, even the smallest ones. (Sometimes the smallest ones are even the most powerful!)
So as I share these words of gratitude from many of our students, may they inspire you to thank someone who has meant something to you. And know that as you do, you are also saying thank you to Jesus.
"I am thankful for my teacher; she has really helped me get by in school. She is always willing to let me come down and talk to her when I need it. She helps me stay calm and grow in my faith. She never fails to make me smile. I can always count on her to be there for me and help with anything. I just wanna say I'm so thankful for her and all that she does for me."
"Thank you for being so patient with our class, and trying so vigorously to help us with English. You are very appreciated, and I pray that God blesses your efforts this year and all the following years you do His work. Thank you for all you've done for us."
"Thank you so much for being a thoughtful and caring teacher."
"Thank you for talking with me at pick-up when I am lonely. It makes me feel happy."
"I just want to thank you for being the best teacher!"
"Thank you for praying with us in the morning and helping all of us through the day!"
"I just wanted to thank you for teaching me after school because it helped me a lot."
"Thank you for being so nice to me on my first day of school."
"I am so so thankful for everything that you have done for me."
"I just want to thank you for helping me improve in Math, motivating me to do my work and try my hardest."
"Thank you for reading the Bible to us."
"Thank you for helping me write my name."
"Thank you for helping me with hard things."
"Thank you for helping me when I get hurt."
"Thank you for helping me with reading my words."
"Thank you for teaching me in Art class things I never knew."
"Thank you for being nice and cheering my friends up."
"I just wanted to thank you for helping us with every little problem that comes up, even if we sometimes don't think we need help."
"I really like how you helped me with Math. Now I am very good at Math!"
"I really like how you helped me with being kinder to other people."
"Thank you for being our teacher and helping us through rough times."
"I really like how you helped me with talking with my mom."
"I can't thank you enough for all you do, for every little thing you do for the school and the students."
Photo credit: Grace Seville
During Grandparents Day, families decorated rocks with words/pictures of things they were thankful for. The rocks were then placed in a bowl, to create a display that is "overflowing with thankfulness"!
Pray with me...
... Thank You, Lord for these messages of thanks! Please let Alliance Christian School District become a community overflowing with thankfulness.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and pray for Alliance Christian School District! Lord willing, I plan to publish a new blog post weekly on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Feel free to subscribe (at the bottom of this page) if you'd like to be notified each time a new blog post has been published. We also have a prayer team that is always open for new pray-ers to join. If you'd like to learn more, email me at cwarner@alliancechristian.org.
~ Carrie Warner, ACSD Prayer Team Coordinator
Soli Deo Gloria
To God alone be the glory
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