You Don't Just Teach

You don’t just teach.

You inspire.

You explain the economics of supply and demand to the fascinated face of a boy who grows up to start a business that flourishes and brings life to his community.

You teach the songs and explain the music theory that ignites the spark of a young composer who goes on to write music that touches hearts and draws many to worship.

You assign the creative writing assignments that cultivate the imagination of a girl who will raise a band of children who live in wonder with their eyes wide open to the sparkle and awe of this beautiful world.

You teach the intricacies of trigonometry to the young mind that will continue to think in angles and lines, engineering buildings that stand like monuments of stability and strength.

You read a missionary story and a seed is planted in a heart, a seed that grows into a passion that sends that child-now-grown-up to share God’s love in the wilds of the jungle, in the village of mud huts, in the heights of a city skyscraper, or in the streets of suburban America.

No, you don’t just teach. You inspire.

And you shape.

You assign the boring math fact worksheets that sharpen their minds and develop their perseverance.

You settle the squabbles and elicit the apologies that grow their empathy and humble their pride.

You coax them through the complex calculus equations that teach them grit and higher-level thinking.

You teach them how to listen when a classmate is talking and pay attention even when they think they already know what they’re doing, because for the rest of their lives they will be involved in communities of people who deserve to be listened to and respected.

You squash the unsportsmanlike comments and teach them that everyone deserves to be involved in an activity, regardless of natural skill.

You introduce them to the literature stories that will slowly change the way they see the world, the people around them, and their very own hearts.

No, you don’t just teach. You shape.

And you prepare.

You don’t just teach spelling and grammar, math and science, history and social studies, music and art. You don’t just grade papers and plan lessons. You don’t just decorate bulletin boards and make PowerPoints.

You are passing on the knowledge and skills that will grow the next generation of doctors and nurses, carpenters and plumbers, pastors and writers, accountants and entrepreneurs.

You are equipping mothers and fathers and singles, aunts and uncles and friends, brothers and sisters in Christ.

You are teaching the future of the church.

You don’t just teach. Oh, no.

You inspire. You shape. You prepare.

And by the grace of God, the world will look different tomorrow because of your efforts today.