A prayer for Teachers (in celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2011)

October 5 is World Teachers' Day!

Everyone has at least one who comes to mind. A person, who made you think about life, made you laugh…or even made you cry. Someone who made an impression on you, someone you looked up to…someone you wanted to be like when you grow up. You remember a teacher who never gave up on you…even when you felt everyone did.

People say that teaching is the noblest of professions. Others say “those who cannot, teach.” Either way, teachers for better or for worse, mold and shape the hearts and minds of every generation. Often their ideas and actions serve as the best example of what they preach. Thus with teachers apply the same adage often ascribed to fictional “superheroes” – “with great power comes great responsibility”.

I should know, because I taught as one for several years in one college and two universities. At present, I continue to teach in a non-formal way, often when I give talks on pastoral formation or some related stuff. As a parent, you always wear a hat of a teacher to your children. In this sense, my children are my most important students.

As fitting tribute to all the dedicated and loving teachers around the world, I offer this prayer for teachers that one of my kids brought home from school. There is no mention of the author’s name on the mimeographed piece of paper. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could recognize the author of this beautiful prayer for proper recognition. I truly believe he or she would have wanted to share it with the most number of people in the world.

To all the teachers of the world, may you be guided, protected and blessed by the greatest of all teachers, the Lord Christ Jesus!

A Prayer For Teachers

Giver of All Wisdom and Greatest of all Teachers,

Look upon our teachers with love.

Grant them the resolve

To nurture our eager minds.

And to never give up on us who fall behind

Bless their hearts.

For they rejoice when we fail.

Endow them with gentle patience

For the path of learning is never easy.

Kindle a spirit of passion in them

It is the flame that ignites the love of learning in us.

Help them see the potential in each student

Their belief in us means much more than the grade we make.

Instill in them a commitment to keep on learning

It shows us to not fear new knowledge and experiences.

Inspire them to touch the future

They influence how big a dream we dream for ourselves.

Bless our teachers who have come before

For their work endures to this day.

Let the light of Your example shine upon all teachers.

To build up with their words,

To love with their mind, and

To share with their heart.

Amen.