Peanut Butter, Jelly Time! Are you a grape or strawberry person? I love strawberry jelly and frankly, can not stand grape. Yuck. Can you hear me gagging right now?
When I was discussing this ever so important issue with a friend, it reminded me of a story. My grandmother grew up in the heart of Florida and when she was a little girl, her family grew and sold strawberries. She told me that her mother would tell her to put the small ones on the bottom and the big ones on top. Pretty good sales tactic, even in the 40s.
Why is this story important? My great grandmother died in a horrific car fire when my grandmother was just twelve years old. Putting the small strawberries on the bottom of the container and getting ready for market was one of a few memories she had about her mother. That one made her smile.
Are you the teacher, parent or grandparent that makes memories? Are you the one that they think fondly of? All of us can think of that one teacher that made a difference in our lives. For me, it was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Trivett. That was the year that one of my fellow classmates complained that our class was saying a prayer before lunch. We went to a public school and she wasn’t allowed to lead us in the prayer anymore. She was bold enough to allow me, a small eight-year-old little girl in pigtails, to pray any way. She was bold enough to have scripture on her desk and be a witness to other teachers and students. She was bold enough to encourage us to share our faith in the classroom and on the playground.
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Yes, teaching the curriculum on pace is important! Meeting the standards is important! Continuing education is important! More importantly is the legacy that we are leaving the children in our care. Teach them the ways of the Lord, teach them about the love of Christ and be an example of it.
Did I mention that it's in the WORD OF GOD?
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NLT
Does that answer the question about strawberry or grape jelly? It never was a question in my mind. The answer is to make an eternal difference while spreading that jelly… or is it jam? Lord! There might just be another lesson in those two words.
Let's Pray!
Lord, help us make an eternal difference in each life that comes across our paths. Show us ways to make memories that lead others to you. Give us lessons to teach with the mundane things in our lives and remind us of scripture and your love as we go about our days. Thank you for the teachers that impacted our lives and help us be that impact for others. Amen.
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