A Teacher's Prayer

Oh Lord, may You help us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling...

Verse:

You called the little children, “Come to Me”

And taught us what Your kingdom ought to be

So help me, Lord, to follow faithfully

To bring to You the ones You bring to me

Chorus:

Help me be Your hands to give them sight

Help me be Your arms to lend them might

Help me be Your rod to teach them wrong from right

Help me be their guide towards Your light

Verse:

You called me long before I knew of You

And loved so much You paid all I had due

So when the children need such patience too

Please help me love them just the way You do

Chorus:

Help me be Your hands to wipe their tears

Help me be Your arms to calm their fears

Help me be Your voice so every child may hear

That through weary roads, You guide and cheer

Fly for Me

As I listened to the testimony of an alumna who has gone on into mission work in Nepal, I was overwhelmed by the privilege to be a teacher. May the young faces in the classroom reach more people and achieve more wonders for God's kingdom than I could ever do. She inspired this blank verse poem as well as a hope I carry with me as a new school year begins.

I have no wings to fly me lands away...

No wind to make me soar above the sea...

But I know those who will do so one day

And take off to the very ends of earth

I have one life to live and give and love...

That more may learn to do the same one day...

And people I may never meet and know

Would feel God's love through those I love today.

I can but plant a seed within each heart...

More years must pass till roots and boughs will grow

But trees that spread their branches out one day
Will lend their shade to generations more.

The Summit

Struggles abound in life no matter how ideal one's situation may seem to be. Trials serve a purpose, but as much as I would like to think that I would eventually know the "why" behind every difficulty, there's no promise of such understanding on this side of heaven. Nonetheless, I pray for the faith to finish this journey.

Verse:

I wanted, Lord, to stand atop the mountain,

But not to scale its treacherous ascent;

But though I knew that vict’ry was for certain,

I had to learn what faith and patience meant.

Chorus:

For if I were to stand upon the mountain,

I had to know how best to fare up there;

So while Your perfect blessing is for certain,

It comes to only those who learn to bear

With all the twists and turnings of the pathway

That lead towards the summit’s glorious day

Verse:

So help me, Lord, to never be disheartened

When days grow dark and narrow paths grow steep,

To not compare how others may have charted

But bear the yoke you’ve given me to keep.

Chorus:

And as I climb along this mighty mountain,

Please grant me the humility to bear

The thoughts and feelings that would be for certain

Awaiting those who finally get there.

And help me realize that on this pathway,
I gain what I would need that final day.