I often find myself fearful when I hear of all the evil in the world, and it seems like the past couple months have been especially difficult to bear between the publicity of the late-term abortions being performed by Planned Parenthood (not to mention the other atrocities going on there), the rising wave of terrorist groups, and the ever-increasing incivility on pretty much any political issue raging online, on t.v., and in the papers.
It’s made me want to tear my hair out so many times and scream, “Can’t we all just get along?!”
But I don’t want to talk about all that today—getting into the political scene has never been my thing, and I don’t plan on stirring up contention now.
No—today I wanted to focus on the little miracles I saw today at the school after we got the news that one of our students had been in a terrible auto-pedestrian accident and had been life-flighted down to Salt Lake.
I explained to each class what had happened, and I gave them the opportunity to write the girl a note or a card of love and support if they so chose. I have the girl in two of my classes, so my own emotions have been pretty close to the surface all day, and each of my classes was a somber affair.
I was perusing through the cards and letters just to make sure they were all appropriate before sending them off, and I was so touched by the outpouring of love and friendship and goodwill emanating forth from all the students. Many students mentioned how that although they personally didn’t know her super well, they appreciated her kindness toward everyone and her ability to light up a room with her happy demeanor and ready smile. Other students reminded her of her strength and told her they couldn’t wait until she was back at school. Still others talked about how they would be there for her if she needed anything at all, and many wondered if there was anything they could do to help.
And in easily over half the letters, students wrote that they would be keeping her in their prayers (and many wrote that they hadn’t stopped praying for her in their hearts ever since it happened). In fact, if you go down the 7th grade hallway, several students have decorated the outside of their own lockers with encouraging messages like #prayfor[girl] and Be Strong, [Girl]!
Because of the whole separation of church and state thing, I don’t really talk about my religion with my students. But oh, how I wanted to tell them today how proud I was of them for uniting their faith and prayers for the benefit of a peer. I read their messages of hope and comfort, and I found myself rejoicing that so many of them came from homes that had taught principles like empathy and faith and service and prayer.
It is so easy to get down on the world because of the constant bombardment of negativity everywhere you turn. It is so easy to wonder how any peace is possible when there is so much turmoil and so much evil.
And then there are days like today that remind me that there is much that is good and hopeful and encouraging, and that there are far more people trying to do good rather than evil.
So thank you to my twelve- and thirteen-year-old students for reminding me in a very powerful way that there is still much good in our crazy world.
(Today I’m linking up with Autumn—check out the linkup here)
