Sheila Sims Iding
It started when I would take the boys to school. We would all be in the car together and so we would use that short ride from our house to St. Gerard School to pray. Just a quiet morning prayer as we started our school day together. We would say the prayer together every morning. Sometimes the voices were quiet or sleepy, or crabby (who me?) but always it was our voices in prayer. As the boys left St. Gerard and went to high school, it was hard as our morning prayer was one voice short...then two voices short...then just mine.
I think the first time I had to say it alone, I cried. (Who me?) I still say the prayer each morning when I leave for school and I have almost gotten used to hearing just my voice. And now with just my voice the meaning of the prayer has changed just a bit. When it is just my morning voice, my morning hopes for the day, it seems to be more of a teacher's prayer. I’m not sure where I found the prayer. I don’t think it was meant to be specifically for teachers, but the words seem to be an echo of a teacher’s hopes for the day. So this prayer is how I start my day…and my hopes for each child entrusted to my care.
As I live each day
may I do my part
to make each difference
to touch each heart.
And through each day
may it be my goal
to encourage each mind
and inspire each soul…
To live my days wisely
in all that I do
Caring…loving…living
for You.
The words of this prayer help me to realize that teaching can’t just be about math, reading and who knows the spelling words. It has to be about making a difference in their learning, touching their hearts to grow spiritually, encouraging their minds to discover and wonder and to inspire them to be aware of all the special gifts they have to share.
I follow this prayer immediately by a prayer I borrowed from my grandpa. A writing about that special prayer will be coming soon. Until then, I hope you can enjoy this prayer (which I have adapted for teaching) to help start your own day as you encourage and inspire the people entrusted to your care…including YOU.