The best conversation of my life.

I.stinkin'.love.teaching.  It is the best job in the world for the simple reason that I get to spend my whole day with kids.  Here's the best example from today:


(Setting the scene: My students are working at their stations as I walk around monitoring.  Four of my kiddos are in the blocks station.)


Diana: Ms. Paschal, we're talking about Jesus here.  He's up there!  (points to ceiling)
Adam: I really want to see Him.  I miss Him.  He died because He's a good person. 
Ms. Paschal: Why did He die?
Manuel: People were jealous of him.
Diana: They got a wand and they hit Him in the face and everywhere.  
Adam: All Jesus does is eat a lot of olives...when He was alive.
Diana: Jesus always goes to work at the church.
Adam: We prayed to a statue of Jesus and said "good luck" and "amen" to Him.
Ms. Paschal: What is He going to do when He comes back?
Diana: Maybe go back to work at the church.
Adam: If He comes back alive, I will give him a big hug.
Ms. Paschal: What does Jesus do for us?
Adam: Protects us when we sleep.
Diana: Sometimes Jesus doesn't want to go to sleep so He goes to work at a church and we go eat Mexican food in a cave with Him.  And when I go to recess, I hug Jesus.
Manuel: Look, I made a cross.  (Sure enough, he built a cross out of the blocks.)
Yanderi: We pray at home for God to come back.
Adam:  I got nothing else to say...
(pause)
Adam: ...wait, I got something.  When Jesus comes back, whatever He needs, I will give it to Him.  Like, if He needs a puppy, I will tell my grandpa to go to the pet store and buy Jesus puppies.


I KID YOU NOT - this conversation happened.  VERBATIM.  (Because as soon as I knew they were having this conversation, I got my clipboard and scribbled it all down...not something you want to forget.)


In all seriousness, I pray for my kiddos every single day - for their education, for their families, for their health.  My kiddos may come from a loving family with two secure, employed parents to a single mother with five kids who works two jobs.  One of the best things any teacher can do for their students is PRAY.  Do it every day on the way to work (there's nothing good on the radio in the morning anyway..) and see that it truly benefits them.  Having this conversation today with my kiddos left me in such peace knowing that their parents and guardians are guiding them in a Christian way.  I love these times with my students.