Modern Day Mother Teresa....Be a Person of Service

I'm sure you are thinking that this is a bizarre title to my post, but there is a background behind it. Last year during the annual district wide toy drive that my class and I spearhead every year one of my kids nicknamed me 'Modern Day Mother Teresa' or #MDMT for short. I obviously know that I don't hold a candle to Mother Teresa and her work and dedication to the world, but I thought it was interesting that this student associated this iconic world leader and I in the same ballpark..Maybe he was fishing for an 'A", but either way I had to inquire....

I responded to Joe with a faint giggle, "trust me, I am nowhere near saving children in the streets of Calcutta!" He replied, "I know, that is why you are the modern day version. You help us all of the time and save some of us too, but most importantly you encourage and inspire us to help others. It is like a ripple effect to make the world a better place. You are right, you are not in Calcutta, but you are in Hillsboro, MO and making a huge difference." 

Wow!!! Those are words that will stick with my until the day I die. It was one of the most sincere and heart-felt compliments that I have ever received. 

Encouraging each other to be people of service:

Last Friday my students and I volunteered at the DeSoto Elks for their Annual Food Baskets that they do for the local community. It is a very touching sight as most of my students live in poverty to see them so passionately working to help others and  LOVING it. As a teacher is warms my heart to see young people not just giving back, but enjoying it and taking pride in their actions. It reassures me that the world will be taken care of after I am dead and gone. 

We MUST teach our young people to be people of service and the importance of giving back. The most effective way to do this is to LEAD BY EXAMPLE. We must continue to demonstrate humanitarianism and the need to be global servants...We MUST help others...EVERYWHERE...From our backyards and across the world, we must continue to try and make the world a better place. Please continue being awesome and remember that LOVE is where we can all start...

Happy Holidays to you and peace on Earth!

Leigh