Sometimes when I think back on my school years, I will think about the teachers who made a difference in my life.  There were several: the 4th grade teacher who I thought was the prettiest and nicest teacher ever, the 7th grade Algebra teacher who I thought was older than dirt and quite often seemed mean but would not accept less than my best-who pushed me to excel, the 8th grade Science teacher who welcomed me to Texas who I really liked and thought was a big cornball, the Trig teacher who in high school tutored me in the mornings before school, when I moved back from my Dad's, so I could catch up because he "knew" I could-the list could go on.  These teachers left a heartprint in my life.

Teachers can make a difference in our lives and the lives of our children and it can be a positive difference or a negative difference.  If you are lucky, your child will only experience the teachers who will leave a heartprint in their life.  If you are not so lucky, you might find your child has been placed with a teacher who might be suffering from burn-out and it will be her last year to teach in the classroom and then another year your child might be placed with a teacher whose heart is wrapped up in her personal life and whose head is not in the classroom and this will also be her last year to teach.  You might find that you repeatedly ask teachers if you should retain your child because of some learning problems and your questions are blown off with answers such as, "he'll do fine" or "he'll catch up", etc.

So when your child is headed for 2nd grade you might find yourself praying for the "right" teacher for him, the "best" teacher for him and you may fear what is in store for you and him in 2nd grade.  One of your closest friends may be a 2nd grade teacher and you may voice quite loudly that you don't want your son in her class-always with a laugh, but with a touch of seriousness.  Why?  You might be fearful of the "teacher/student/parent relationship" coming between the "friendship" because you have been left with a sour taste in your mouth regarding your son's teachers-that's all.  This is my story and what happened with Cade.  I think back then I may have inadvertantly hurt my friend's feelings although I never meant too-I hope she understood my feelings so long ago.

So, let me tell you about answered prayers, a teacher's heart,  the best teacher for Cade, and Mrs. H.  I got a phone call a long time ago from my friend who was scared to tell me that out of all of the teachers and all of the students, Cade was placed in her class.  She was nervous and hesitant to tell me this because of my statements of "not wanting Cade in her class."  She felt that God put Cade in her class for a reason and with so many life altering events that would occur in 2nd grade (namely the addition of his baby sister) wouldn't it be better for Cade to be with a teacher who had been there since day 1 of the process, who knew and loved Cade, and who could give him the love he would need during this huge transition....well, when you put it that way, it'd be stupid of me to think otherwise.  It clicked in that moment and it was simply another "God-thing" in my life.  Oh, yes, Mrs. H. - you were so right!

This is my thank you to you, Mrs. H. for being a teacher who cared.   I will forever be grateful for the time you invested in Cade not because you felt you had to but because it's in your heart to help your students succeed.  Because you are an "involved" teacher, because you care, because you have a teacher's heart my son re-gained his self-confidence in school, he began "trying" rather than "quitting", he became proud of himself in his academic achievements and he looked forward to being in class-with you.  I'm thankful that you are a teacher that takes care of the issues rather than passing them off to the next teacher, I'm thankful for your honesty which was not always easy, I'm thankful you went out of your way to help me find the help I needed for Cade, I'm thankful that you cared.  I watched and listened to you when you asked for prayers for some of your students, their families, informing us about the fire that destroyed a student's home and everything in it so we could come together and help.  You care and it makes a difference.

You make a difference in the lives of your students, a wonderful difference.  You help set the foundation for them to succeed.  I am blessed to call you my friend and it truly was an answered prayer that you were my son's teacher-thank you.  You left a heartprint in my son's life as well as mine-I will forever be grateful.