Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash
The teacher looked around the room warmly at each adult paired up with a proudly beaming student, "You are here, "she said to the adults, "because you are special to the child next to you." Pairs of eyes met and giggles followed. Each had their own special relationship. One was a coach. One was an auntie. One was a neighbor. It was exciting because it felt somewhat backwards: these are the adults who invest their time and love into these children. Now the kids have a day to return the favor.
Special Persons Day is coming up, and the school is abuzz with preparations. The kids are practicing their presentation all week. Each student is also tasked with packing a lunch for their special person to eat alongside them at school.
A former beloved school administrator recalls, "It's so wonderful to see these different adults and children having such a bond. I've seen an elderly grandfather playing four-square with his grandson at recess." She went on to explain how this day gives the Special Persons an open door to hear about Jesus from the hearts of children. A relative, who wanted nothing to do with Jesus, came as a Special Person to a student. Afterward, while getting into the car, he kept remarking how they have "a very neat little school," with noticeably softened eyes.
Adults who come as a Special Person sometimes end up enrolling their own children in PHCS. One young woman came as a Special Person to a third grader in her extended family. She drove up, and was amazed at this cute little schoolhouse, with a bell on top, sitting out in the country. As soon as she walked through the front door, she was greeted by polite, respectful children. She remembers clearly a little boy pulling a chair out for her. She was wowed. At the end she remarked that she planned on sending her children there. At the time, she was newly married with a baby. But when the time came, she remembered that Special Persons Day, and enrolled her son in Kindergarten at PHCS. Since then, she has enrolled two more kiddos!
The honor goes the other way too. If a child didn't have a special person, the school provides them with a loving adult to be their Special Person. This adult gets to show how the student is special, and packs a lunch for them. No one gets left out.
As we may be feeling increasingly isolated and busy in life, adults who take time for the children around them shine brightly. Perhaps your quick hug may be the only hug that child receives that day. Perhaps nobody else taught that child how to look someone in the eye and shake their hand. We never know the impact of small gestures. In a world that feels increasingly dangerous to children, these special persons are those who have taken the time and energy to open the door into their hearts, and invest in creating a safe harbor for them to grow up.
Special Persons Day is coming up, and the school is abuzz with preparations. The kids are practicing their presentation all week. Each student is also tasked with packing a lunch for their special person to eat alongside them at school.
A former beloved school administrator recalls, "It's so wonderful to see these different adults and children having such a bond. I've seen an elderly grandfather playing four-square with his grandson at recess." She went on to explain how this day gives the Special Persons an open door to hear about Jesus from the hearts of children. A relative, who wanted nothing to do with Jesus, came as a Special Person to a student. Afterward, while getting into the car, he kept remarking how they have "a very neat little school," with noticeably softened eyes.
Adults who come as a Special Person sometimes end up enrolling their own children in PHCS. One young woman came as a Special Person to a third grader in her extended family. She drove up, and was amazed at this cute little schoolhouse, with a bell on top, sitting out in the country. As soon as she walked through the front door, she was greeted by polite, respectful children. She remembers clearly a little boy pulling a chair out for her. She was wowed. At the end she remarked that she planned on sending her children there. At the time, she was newly married with a baby. But when the time came, she remembered that Special Persons Day, and enrolled her son in Kindergarten at PHCS. Since then, she has enrolled two more kiddos!
The honor goes the other way too. If a child didn't have a special person, the school provides them with a loving adult to be their Special Person. This adult gets to show how the student is special, and packs a lunch for them. No one gets left out.
As we may be feeling increasingly isolated and busy in life, adults who take time for the children around them shine brightly. Perhaps your quick hug may be the only hug that child receives that day. Perhaps nobody else taught that child how to look someone in the eye and shake their hand. We never know the impact of small gestures. In a world that feels increasingly dangerous to children, these special persons are those who have taken the time and energy to open the door into their hearts, and invest in creating a safe harbor for them to grow up.
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