Saying Goodbye to Miss J.

For a handful of reasons, Ruthie's classroom went through a transition recently as the class was assigned a new first grade teacher. Before we could jump for joy with enthusiasm over a new instructor, we needed to shed some tears in saying goodbye to Miss J. There's a verse in the Bible when Jesus is speaking to his disciples and he says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." This verse has rung in my ears since the teacher change, because Ruthie's spirit of love and attachment is so deep and sweet. A six-year old doesn't discriminate who to love versus who not not invest love into. Her experience until this point has been that a teacher remains in your life, and she expected the same of Miss J. So when the news broke, we had lots of tears, lots of questions, and lots of prayer. It's been a week now with the new teacher, and Ruthie is really happy; however, she still talks about Miss J after she appears in nighttime dreams or as little occasions arise that bring her to Ruthie's mind. This event has been a life lesson that people come and go in our lives, and that it's normal to miss those we love, but a more important lesson is that you never know how long people will stay, and that we must savor our time with those special to us. We'll miss you Miss J! Thank you for being someone special in Ruthie's life, we'll always remember you!

That bible verse continues on to say "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." - Matthew 18:3-5.