Counselor’s Corner - April 18 Issue

Dear Outpourers,

This weekend I took my 7- and 10-year old daughters out to Easter Tea. Dressed and dolled up, we arrive to Serintea Cafe and Boutique with high spirits and hungry stomachs. After being seated, we were handed a hefty menu, filled with just teas. We read it dutifully, overwhelmed by the differences between blacks and herbals, until finally deciding on our choices. The girls got chocolate strawberry herbal tea (purportedly a favorite of younger tea drinkers), and I ordered the chocolate coconut tea (apparently the owner's favorite). The we sat and waited anxiously.

Minutes later, our teas arrived in their own individual china teapots, teabags peeking out from under the lids. Novice at the art of tea drinking, the tea house host gave us invaluable advice: Whatever way you do your tea is right for you. Some like to infuse it for a short timeframe for a light flavor, while others prefer to steep theirs for the entirety of tea service. Either way, add sugary sweetness and creamy richness to your heart's desire and drink up.

As we dipped our tea bags, spooned in sugar, and poured creamer from tiny pitchers, I reflected on how student learning is similar to tea. Each individual takes to learning differently. Some take a shorter time frame, while others take much longer. Some like to dip deep into a subject area, while some like just a light overview. Either way, the pouring out of a bit of sweetness from teacher kindness and tenderness, coupled by the rich infusing of Jesus into the curriculum can lead to students drinking it up to their heart's desire. Oh, and finger sandwiches never hurt, either!

Thanks for 'seeping' into students' lives,
Mindy