(now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

In the middle of my lesson on adding fractions with like denominators, a timid little third grader appears at the back :::very aware that she is in big-kid territory::: She presents me with a bright yellow paper. I take it, and with a rush of relief she bolts out the door. I tell the kids to begin in their practice book as I steal away to my desk to read my mystery note. Inside, written in black ink and surrounded by smiley faces, is the best thing I’ve heard all week:  

“Do not let your peace depend on the hearts of men; whatever they say about you, good or bad, you are not because of another man, for as you are, you are.”

                                                                                 Thomas a Kempis

Thank you to the people who encourage me, not with compliments, but with truth.