Day 3 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

When something seems unfair we are often quick to condemn. It’s not our job to judge, but the ability to criticize comes too quickly at times. We don’t know the whole story and it’s God’s job anyway.  One of the greatest gifts I’ve been able to give students when I do the Pay It Forward presentation is Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway” poem.  She has a gift for helping us take what is wrong and to turn it around for good.

A verse to ponder

Prov. 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

An intentional blessing for the classroom  

Encourage your students to always give their best no matter what. One of the best poems in the world for this act of goodness is Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway.” I’ve attached a portion of my presentation for you if you care to read it to your students. It’s powerful when read aloud.

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true friends.

Be successful anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world your best anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.

A focus of reflection

Is it legal to read Mother Teresa’s poem in classroom? Of course, if you are reading the poem in the context of character development or as part of the history of what she did as a missionary. It is also quit timely as a part of Women’s History month! Our goal is always to promote goodness to our students and among our students. Her poem releases almost all settings of human injustices that can be forgiven. Thank God we have such a great Savior.

Day 4

(Good manners begin with the word please in any language.)

Made with Tagxedo

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.