"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" (Luke 15:4)

It is Monday morning, and the students start to file into your classroom. Some are a few minutes early, and some are just in time. Some are smiling, while others look as if the weight of the world rests on their young shoulders. Some students talk to those around them, and some simply stare straight ahead, waiting for the class to begin. Suddenly, you find yourself lost in your thoughts, and you silently ask, "Does what I do matter? Do I make a difference?"

Often as teachers, we can get lost in the immediate results. For example, we love the subjects we teach, so we assume all our students will naturally love what we teach. Instead, our classrooms are filled with groans and complaints, as well as students with sleepy eyes and closed minds. When you experience those moments when it becomes easy to wonder if all our hard work is worth the effort, remember this short story inspired by Loren Eiseley's "The Star Thrower":

A boy was walking down the beach, and as he was walking, he noticed a starfish that had been pushed ashore by the waves. The starfish was still alive, so the little boy threw it as far as he could back into the water. Suddenly, when the boy focused, he could see many starfish had been pushed ashore, so he diligently began to pick them up and throw them back. Over and over he kept up this same process, picking up a starfish and throwing it back into the water. An older gentleman had been watching the boy, and in a cynical tone he said, "Do you really think you are making a difference? Look at all the starfish! You can't save them all. Do you really think you are making a difference?" The boy stood there and listened. Then, he bent down and picked up another starfish and threw it back into the water. He turned to the man and said, "I made a difference to that one."

As teachers, we may never know the difference we make immediately. In fact, we may never hear accolades or even a heart-felt "thank you" from those assembled in our classrooms. However, make no mistake; you make a difference in the lives of your students! As an educator, you have the power to change the world. Though the faces in your classroom may be yawning today, they may be the faces of those performing surgery tomorrow. They are the future, and you are their present. Seize the moments you have and push them towards the goal. After all, the "starfish" you rescue today, may be our president tomorrow.

Lord, thank You for teaching me to be dependent on You. Even when I am discouraged and wonder if I make a difference, You know everything I need. Teach me to be patient and wait upon Your voice. Help me to show Your love each and every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.