Unexpected

We all teach.

Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, customers, even the person next-in-line at the checkout learn from us - by virtue of how we interact with others.

Am I kind, patient, helpful? Do I get your goat, touch your heart, make you laugh or frown?

Quite often I wonder what our three boys are picking up from me. Are they grasping the REALLY important stuff? Last night I glimpsed hope while reading aloud to Noah at bedtime.

We were working on Laura Ingalls Wilder's seventh book called "Little Town on the Prairie" and had reached the last chapter called "Unexpected in December."

It was Christmas Eve of 1882 in DeSmet - a newly established town in Dakota Territory. Pa was in town while Ma and the three girls were busy with preparations, but missing Mary, the oldest Ingalls daughter who had been away in Iowa for months studying at the College for the Blind. Money was tight. The family managed tuition costs, but couldn't afford to bring Mary home for the holidays.

Laura ached for her sister and wished aloud that Mary had never gone away. Ma said Laura mustn't feel that way because Mary was doing so well in her studies, music and artwork. Yet Ma wondered aloud how they would afford summer clothes, a little spending money and an expensive Braille slate for Mary.

Laura suggested she would soon be 16 years old and then be able to test for a teaching certificate. With a teacher's salary, she could help provide for Mary's needs. Ma knew Laura had been studying very hard towards that goal and had given a great show of her knowledge the night before at the School Exhibition.

Just then, a knock at their door produced an opportunity for Laura to teach at a school 12 miles away. The school board chairman had seen Laura perform at the School Exhibition and was willing to wave the age requirement if she was willing to take a certification test on the spot and work with five pupils grades 4 and under.

Laura agreed and passed the test with ease. She was hired to start the following Monday to work for two months and earn $40 - more than enough money to provide for her sister's needs as well as a train ticket to bring Mary home for the coming summer!

As we closed the book, Noah pulled up his quilts and said, "I know who made all that happen."

"Who?" I asked. And Noah smiled, "God!"

"You're right," I replied marveling at the wisdom my third grader drew from a story that happened long ago.

"That's an AWESOME connection!"

Yes, we all teach... Yet this lesson learned was Unexpected.