Chaplain's Message

Story from Chicken Soup for the Soul – I found this and thought it was worth sharing.

"Once you see a child’s self-esteem begin to improve, you will see significant gains in achievement area, but even more important, you will see a child who is beginning to enjoy life."  Wayne Dyer

I had a great feeling of relief when I began to understand that a youngster needs more than just subject matter. I know mathematics well, and I teach it well. I used to think that was all I needed to do. Now I teach children, not Maths! 

I accept the fact that I can only succeed partially with some of them. When I don’t have to know all the answers, I seem to have more answers than when I tried to be the expert. 

The youngster who really made me understand this was Eddie. I asked him one day why he thought he was doing much better than last year. He gave meaning to my whole new orientation. “It’s because I Iike myself now when I’m with you”, he said.  A teacher quoted by Everett Shostrom in Man, The Manipulator.

I asked staff recently to reflect on teachers that they remembered over the years. It was interesting! For me it was certainly who they were rather than what they taught! It is so true that it is how we make others feel that they remember. May we always be mindful of not just what we say but how we say it!

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

~Pastor Sarah Pollitt

College Chaplain