I Hope There are Classrooms in Heaven: A Tribute to a Teacher

Early this morning a teacher friend of mine was welcomed into the arms of the Lord. Most would agree that she was one of those teachers that absolutely loved what she did....making a difference in the lives of children.  

She was the type of teacher that all her older students came flocking back to visit with huge smiles and arms outstretched before they even reached her door. She was the type to take a subject we were studying and enrich their learning experience by having oodles of hands-on activities, creative writing assignments, and silly songs to sing. She was the type of teacher that always had a concern for the personal well-being of a child. I remember how she'd sit in a team meeting and just contemplate over what to do about a certain situation a child of her's may be dealing with...even if it wasn't related to classroom learning.

She was there early before the sun was really awake and stayed late while the shadows from the sunset were cast upon the playground. Her classroom was always welcoming and bursting at the seams with displays that always seem to lure in her children and make them excited to know what was next on the agenda for the day.  She was the type of teacher you hope your own child got one day because you could rest easy knowing that not only would they learn more than expected, but be loved and cared for as you as their parent would.

Her passing was sudden and has left many with heavy hearts. I personally can smile though through the tears because I know she is in Heaven with the Lord (probably teaching a bunch of sweet little children). I smile because I know she had the opportunity to truly LOVE children and make their days spent at school a fun experience. I smile because she taught me to not always worry about "sticking to the plan" in a classroom.  Because of her I know it's in the children's best interest to go off on a tangent and quickly throw together an unplanned activity that you know will capture their attention. I smile because I feel certain she completed the plan God had for her here on Earth...and always did it with a smile on her face.  

She was a rare, precious breed of a human being, a mother, grandmother, a co-worker, and a leader of children.  We will all miss you, but we are rejoicing that you are finally Home. 

I hope that there really are classrooms in Heaven.... filled with students ready to meet their new, wonderful teacher this morning.