A Kingdom Picture

One of the neat things about being a teacher of young children is the opportunity to see things from a child’s perspective, to witness firsthand their innocence and trust, and gain a better understanding of how Father wants me to see things. He uses them to teach me things I might not learn as well from a book or a sermon.

I receive new students throughout the year. As a special education teacher, my students come already facing challenges. Being in a racially and ethnically diverse district, they sometimes have the added challenge of being unfamiliar with the primary language of the school.

So when I get a new student as young as 2 years old, who has never been away from home or family, and who doesn’t even speak the same language I do, my first job is not to teach them their ABCs. It’s not even to teach them English. My first responsibility is to create a space where they feel safe enough to focus on those things they need to learn without the distractions of fear or anxiety.

How can I do that? How do I reach a child who is away from everything they’ve ever known, sitting among strangers instead of family and friends, and who may not even understand the words I say to them? How do I let them know they are in a safe place, a good place? How do I convince them that, even though it’s scary now, things are about to get better in ways they’ve never imagined?

I speak softly to them. I let my eyes speak when my words are not enough. I pull them into my lap, and hold them more tightly when they try to run away from my protection. I sing over them. I take them by the hand and lead them to others who will help them feel at home.

I don’t expect them to “get it” all at once. I don’t yell at them when they don’t understand my words. I don’t get angry when they stumble figuring out the new routine. I understand it’s my responsibility to meet them where they are, before trying to get them to where I know they can go.

So I go slowly with them, allowing them to feel their way through to a place of security in their new environment. I demonstrate what I want from them, and pull in others who have already learned how it works. I encourage other children come alongside and speak to them in their own language and invite them into their play.

And I watch as, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, the fear begins to leave their eyes to be replaced by eagerness to join the others around them. I watch as they move from being “the new kid” to becoming another member of our classroom family.

And as time passes, I often get to see how everything we’ve invested in that scared, insecure child results in them becoming someone who is able to reach out and help other, newer children.

Even more, I watch the characters of those already in the class blossom as they take the younger and more needy among themselves under their wings. I see selfishness and self-seeking begin to slip away as they recognize and accept the opportunity to help someone else. I watch them develop into people they would never have otherwise had the chance to become.

Are you seeing it now, too? Every day I get to experience a small-scale representation of the Kingdom of God unfolding around me . . .