Foundations

When a builder builds a house, he takes special care at the beginning to ensure the foundation is solid. The height, width, and depth are measured, the foundation frame is set, the rebar is tied in place, and the cement is poured. He knows how important this is since it will be this foundation that grounds the house through decades of storms. After the cement cures, he is confident enough to build the rest of the house on this firm foundation.

As a first grade teacher, I am a builder of houses. I help lay a foundation in my students’ lives that the rest of their education depends on (along with their wonderful Seeds, Sprouts, and Kinder education of course). Yes, reading, writing, and addition are important, but even more important is a faith in Jesus Christ. I truly believe this will equip them to make it through the storms of life, grounded and unshaken. 

These are some of the foundations I lay in my class:

The Bible teaches the TRUTH (John 14:6)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1)

We all sin and deserve to be punished (Rom 3:23)

Jesus died on the cross so all of our sins could be forgiven. (1 John 2:2)

Whoever believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will not perish (will not be punished) but will have eternal life (John 3:16)

God loves us, not because of anything we did or will do or can do, but solely because we are His creation (i.e., we cannot earn His love) (Eph 2:8-9)

We can give our worries to Jesus because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7)
Jesus Himself talked about how important this foundation is in our lives. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24‭-‬27

This is how I love my students (because God first loved me). May God be with me, along with the school and the parents, as we lay these foundations and build these houses together.