Sentinel Watch November 7, 2011 Issue

Prayer about public education

Elizabeth Kellogg

This year, our local newspaper has been running a front page series about the school system in our community, with topics from lessons to lunches, negotiations to nonperformance, contracts to custodians. Sometimes, the contentious complexities of funding and curriculum make it is easy to overlook the fact that public education is meant to bless—not burden—mankind, by laying the foundation for a common understanding of language, mathematics, and science.

I turned more earnestly to prayer when I recognized that my personal opinions far outweighed a sense of peace whenever I thought about the issues surrounding education. Instead of throwing up my hands in frustration, I threw open my heart to God and listened for His inspiration. “Reclaim the blessing!” were the first words that came to thought. I understood them to mean that I needed to recall all that is good and right about humanity’s desire to teach and learn.

These words of gratitude from the book of Psalms reminded me to thank God for all that He is and all that He does for His children, including every student, teacher, administrator, and politician involved in education: “Praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (107:8, 9).