My sister asked her if she ever had me as a teacher. She couldn’t remember what class I even taught her, but she knew that she had. My pride was wounded a bit at the idea that the hours upon hours I spent teaching weren’t memorable. The question wasn’t what was the favorite thing I taught her, simply what class did I teach.
What she did remember was that at the end of the semester, I wrote every senior a card. It was the only year I ever did that. Apparently, that spoke louder than the arguments for God’s existence, Church teachings, and problem of evil discussions.
It is something I would like to stop and consider more often. At times, as teachers, the memorable class teachings are ones that we never intended. While it can frustrate me that the beautiful truths I attempt to express are often forgotten, it is encouraging to know that something is getting through to them.
I spent hours writing out cards that were honest and encouraging. It is nice to hear a few years later that they made some sort of impact.
Seeking After His Heart 
Great article. I’ve been teaching religion now for nearly a decade, and I’m always amazed by what the students remember. It usually has less to do with what I’ve taught, and more to do with how I treated them. The intellectual component is important, but so is consistency of life. I’m always praying that I live what I proclaim to my students.
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Thank you! Solid theology is definitely needed, but it only makes sense when made incarnate by our lives. That makes it so much more difficult to teach well–because we must authentically live it out, too.
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I know in life, I have remembered things that were taught to me at different moments, not so much as to who taught me that teaching or thing but, what (roughly) was taught. I think that is a reason for her answer, but in life when the tire hits the pavement she may not give you credit for it but will recall it at a needed time when God can drive home the point.
I am kind’a like her I may remember the lesson but not who taught the lesson.
in JMJ
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