A Letter from Dorothy
“The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Teaching Kindergarten Taught Me Many Things
Teaching Kindergarten taught me many things. I learned never to give up on a child—just try a different angle. I became a coach, cheerleader, instructor, referee, disciplinarian, and boundary setter in my classroom. I learned to love all my students, even the most unlovable. My goal was to have each child feel safe in an environment that encourages love, respect, and education. Doesn’t this sound like a parent?
I do not hear God’s audible voice. However, I do know when he is speaking to me. On one particular day, he taught me by using a child. I had just sent the kids to recess, and I began to get ready for my next teaching hour when I saw a little head poke in the door.
“Mrs. Doswald?” He said. “Can I come inside?”
“No. You need to run and play with your friends.”
“But,” he said, looking down at his shoes, “Jimmy Joe called me stupid.”
“Are you stupid?”
His eyes got wide, and he shook his head. “No.”
“Then don’t believe him.”
He stood there a moment before whispering. “But Mrs. Doswald, he called me stupid.”
Now I got up, put the curriculum down, and knelt eye level with him. “I am your teacher, right?”
He nodded his head.
“And I am telling you, you are smart. In fact, you are one of the best readers in the class.” I pointed to the award wall. “Look, you have earned all your gold stars. You are not stupid. You are smart.”
He nodded but still didn’t look convinced. I continued. “Jimmy Joe doesn’t get to call you stupid because he doesn’t know you the way I do. He doesn’t get to decide what you are and what you are not.” I stood up and ruffled his hair. “Now go outside and play. Tell Jimmy Joe to use nice words and tell him that I want to speak to him after recess. Okay?” He smiled up at me and said, “I can do that.”
He bounded outside to join his friends while I watched him in the doorway. He went right up to Jimmy Joe and told him something. Then he pointed at me. I smiled and waved at Jimmy Joe. Closing the door, I wondered why that sweet student would believe what Jimmy Joe said about him. Odd.
Then I heard, well not heard, more like understood, God saying, “Then why don’t you believe me when I tell you who you are?” Visions of people popped in my head of others I had believed instead of God. People who insinuated I was not good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. People who clouded my identity in Christ.
I prayed and asked forgiveness. Later, I found these verses in Scripture. Maybe they can help you too.
Friend, John 15:15; Heir, Romans 8:17; Free, John 8:36; Sealed, 2 Cor. 1:21; Chosen, Deuteronomy 14:2; New Creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Citizen of Heaven, Philippians 3:20; Justified, Romans 5:1
There are so many more verses! I especially like Zephaniah 3:17. It humbles me and makes me cry when I think the God of the universe rejoices over me with song. What a picture of love. One I don’t deserve, but God freely gives. How I love Him.
God can use anyone to bring us to a deeper understanding of who he is, even a 5 year old.
Dorothy Doswald
Children's Ministries Director
