Prayerful Teaching is Blessing Others

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

                                                                        Proverbs 11:25 (MSG)

You bless me daily with special gifts of your divine love.  In turn, help me to confer blessings onto others, particularly those I meet in my daily life.  Let me never take the words, “bless,” or “blessings,” for granted or carelessly banter these words about as ordinary and impersonal.  When I offer someone a blessing, may I follow through with actions of hope and love. 

The Actions of Prayerful Teaching

• Bless your students with kind words and expressions of gratitude.  Your words may be the only expression of caring and love they receive that day.  Think of times in your life when one kind word made a huge difference in your attitude and outlook on life.

• Bless your students by silently praying for them during classroom discussions.  When giving “think time” to a student or a class, ask God to bestow a particular blessing over them e.g. “Bless ______ so that she might______,” Bless my students so they can______.”  Pray in secret and expect to see changes manifest themselves.

• Bless your students by writing a short, personal note praising them for a gift they have shared with the class.  The note need be only two or three sentences long.  If one or two notes a week are written, eventually everyone will receive a personal note from you.  Nothing is too small.   Did a student who has trouble with math get a problem correct on the board?   Catch acts of kindness, no matter how small they may seem to an outsider.  Did a child who finds it hard to share, lend another child a pencil or piece of paper?  Blessing notes can be extended to staff members.  It is easier if a small stash of stationary is kept in your desk.  If possible, mail the note to the student's home.  All children love mail, but this mail can initiate family dinner discussions.

• Bless your students by inviting them to have lunch with you.  If you already have lunch duty, tell your students how much you enjoy having lunch with them or having the opportunity to talk with them during their lunch.

• Ask God to bless you and your family and to continue to give you the strength to carry on His work as teacher.  .

Challenge of the Week

As you wash your hands or brush your teeth, use this “empty” time to say a prayer of blessing over those you love.  

God Bless those who love me

And those who love those who love me.

God bless those who I love

And those who love those who I love

God bless all my students and all those who love my students.

God Bless and Prayerful Teaching,

Elizabeth A. Wink

prayerfulteaching@gmail.com