Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ve got lots to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. My husband, kids, and parents are all healthy. My extended family is doing well. Simply put, we’re happy. For that, I am immensely grateful.
Today, though, I feel especially blessed, and I’d like to give a shout-out to my teachers. I’ve had some of the best. Currently, I’m in class with true professionals. Am I in graduate school? Nope, elementary school–fourth grade to be exact. My teachers range in age from five to ten years old.
In a world filled with hate and division, what do a bunch of children have to teach us? On Tuesday, when our amazing gym teacher put on our annual Turkey Trot race at our school, I learned plenty.
In order to participate in the mile long race around our school, each child brings an entry fee of one can of food for our local food bank. From our rural school of less than three hundred kids, our PE teacher and our student ambassadors delivered nearly 700 cans. These same students have also been bringing in their change to help needy families this Christmas. In two weeks, they’ve raised over $2,000.
But it was their behavior during the race that struck me powerfully. We’ve all heard about bullying and how mean children can be. When an entire grade level of tweens puts their voices together to cheer for a child with special needs, one tends to forget about what divides us. When the kids realized that one of their classmates was struggling to finish the mile, they all began shouting the child’s name. Not only did they gather at the finish line to encourage their friend, but about thirty students who had long finished went back onto the course to run the end of the race with the student so this child didn’t have to be last.
In short, this past Tuesday at our Turkey Trot was good medicine for those of us saddened by news reports of hate and violence in our nation. At our little country public school, love is very much alive. Happy Thanksgiving, and may all your hearts be full this weekend!
Linking up with Mama Kat this week! She’s got a list a great winter reads on her site, too, this week!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all my friends south of the border! <3
Diana xo
Hope you had a great turkey day!! Xoxo
Reblogged this on talktodiana and commented:
In lieu of my usual Friday Pick, I am re-blogging Jennifer’s post as a reminder to myself how beautiful, wise and kind us humans can be when we want to.
From the mouths (and actions) of babes…
Awww! Thank you so much!!!
My pleasure Jennifer. <3
It’s always so nice to hear the stories of love and unity, especially when most of what we hear from the media is just the opposite. I’ve almost given up on watching the news because it saddens me so. I think it’s important to remember that love (and hate) can be a learned thing, so you parents in your small town must be doing something right. Thank you!
I’m so glad you visited. The news is sad. As long as it has viewers and ratings, though, the drama will continue because it sells. As bloggers, we get to share the news as we see it. I like my view a lot better! Have a great day, and thanks for your kind words!
This is so sweet. I feel the same way when I went to my son’s school assembly. The kids were actually pretty therapeutic if you ask me!
They are good therapy! Thanks for visiting!