A Christmas Ornament

It's hard to believe today was my last time working in Discovery Land.

Almost thirteen years spent learning, teaching, and growing all coming to an end.

I never told the class I teach I was leaving, which made it all the more hard to tell them I wasn't coming back.

With Christmas just four days away, this Sunday was spent celebrating the birth of our Savior. We traveled to three different stations each focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.

One of the stations was to make a wordless book ornament. Pipe cleaners, pony beads and a tag with the references which correlate to the meaning of the wordless book.

Once back in the classroom, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and enjoy birthday cake. While the kids ate their cake we talked through each of the stations we had visited today. While talking about the wordless book, I had each of the kids close their eyes and think of someone they know who doesn't know Jesus. The person at school? Family member? Basketball team mate? Dance friend? Cashier at a store? I challenged each of them to share their ornament with the person who came to their mind and share the wordless book with them.

Right before the parents came, I announced today was my last class teaching them. The "What?!" "Are you serious?" "Noooooooo" all began as expected. But rest assured they told me that I can still tell people about Jesus while I'm at school.

At the end of class I meet the parents and make sure their child gets connected with their parent. While one kid was leaving, he handed me his ornament and said, "The people at your school need Jesus."

Talk about a way to be sent off for the next semester.

So although I don't know the last time I will see my students again, I can rest in the fact they've entrusted me to tell people about Jesus.

And I accept the challenge.



Merry Christmas,

Carrie