I was at WalMart today and I received an amazing gift. At WalMart? Really? Yes, at WalMart…strange, I know.

I was paying for a prescription when the lady who waited on me recognized me. Please understand, I’ve been teaching in the same school for 10 1/2 years — I’ve met a lot of parents. Truly, I wish I remembered them all, but I just don’t. For eight years I taught 8th graders, 60 to 75 per year. Two years ago, I switched to 6th grade, again 60-75 students per year. This is my third year with 6th graders.

The clerk obviously knew me, remembered that I was a teacher, and asked me how my year was going. We conversed for a few minutes then I received the gift. She said, “I want you to know that you are the only teacher who has ever challenged my son.” I almost cried. I thanked her for telling me that and walked away thanking God.

I became a teacher because I felt called to be one. God has placed me in the classroom to teach children, to encourage them, and to give them a safe and secure place to learn. On the way to that goal, I pray for “my kids”, love them, and dream huge dreams for them. I listen to them, cry with them — and for them, and try to model a life that honors God. There are many things that I want them to “see” in me. I want them to see Jesus and I want Him to plant a hunger in their lives for Him. I hope they see a woman who is happily married, who loves her husband and children, and is incredibly proud of each one. I want them to look at my pictures and to see that the world is an amazingly huge place with wonders galore — places to go, beautiful things to see, and challenges to meet. I want them to listen to my stories and realize that laughter can heal numerous hurts. I want them to learn that they are far more capable than they believe — and that they can do even more than they thought they could.

Children walk into my classroom coming from all kinds of perspectives and life styles. While many come from traditional homes, there are many who come from single-parent homes. Some are hungry or tired. Others are broken, they feel insecure and their lives are out of control. How can I make a difference? How can they walk out of my room stronger and more capable? I do want them to be able to read and understand what they’ve read. And of course I want them to communicate more effectively in writing. But if that’s all I’ve given them, I’ve failed them.

I push my students and because of that, many of them don’t “like” me. Do 11 and 12 year olds like to be challenged? Do I? Probably not, but challenges are good for us. They teach us that we are tougher than we thought. By facing them, we are reminded that we are capable of doing far more than we believed. As we face challenges we become stronger. If a child leaves my class reading better, writing with more clarity and variety, and able to live their lives with more strength than they were before, then maybe, just maybe I’ve succeeded. Do I have bigger dreams for them than just this? You know I do, but I can be content if by challenging them, I’ve at least done this much.

(By the way, I accepted her compliment and am grateful for it. However, I know that many teachers feel the same way I do. We teach, but more than that, we hope to give them skills that will benefit them through out their lives. To you other teachers, thank you for challenging your students as well!)