I was no stranger to loss.

  No each move meant a severing of relationships and a new beginning.

Standing at the door

  looking in at a new sea of faces

  listening to the teacher go on about our ‘new student’.

Sigh.

How I longed to simply slip quietly into the classroom

  find my desk

  and hide in my books.

While my heart tried to recover from all the changes

  I looked out for stability and security.

  But knowing how quickly you can lose it all

      kept me guarded and hanging on the fringes.

But there was one teacher who seemed to be able to read my lonely eyes

   and knew what to do.

Her name was Miss Simon.

I was in third grade. Living in Saugerties, New York.

That year I was able to start the school year with all the others.

My brother and I walked the slate sidewalks until we got to the big school.

He went his way

   and I was left to go mine.

The building where my class was held was separate from the rest of the school.

A brick building. I remember climbing those steps

  heart in throat

  sweaty palms.

But as I entered the classroom I could sense something different.

There was a comfortable buzz of activity.

 I scanned the room and noticed a few students in a group.

    in the center I saw a tall lady with blond hair.

She looked at me and began coming my way.

Smiling.

“So you are Sharon. We are going to have a wonderful year.”

In that instance I loved her.

All the kids did.

We did more than learn from our texts.

    We worked together on plays,

                                             and teas,

                                                and musical programs.

All the while we interacted with each other

   and became close.

Sitting at my desk in third grade

   I watched my teacher waltz from one student to another

      always caring.

That’s what I want to do one day, I remember thinking.

A teacher

    One who will open up doors of adventures for all her students and help everyone

   to feel like they belong.

Although we moved again in May

   I never forgot Miss Simon.

   She was a one of a kind.

And the day I began my own teaching career,

        I wanted her to know.

You see, it takes so little

   to leave a lasting impression on someone’s life.

Just a smile,

   a touch of care

      an understanding heart.

So as you journey through life

  be His touch wherever you go. Spread the joy.

You might never know what a huge difference you make in another’s life.

But they’ll know

   and that’s all that matters.