Message from Margaret Crotts, First Grade Teacher

From THE MESSAGE:

Do you see what this means -- all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?
It means we better get on with it. Strip down, start running and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because He
never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God ---He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right along side God.

Hebrews 12: 1-2

My neighborhood is new, but only to me. Many of the houses have been there since 1974 or so. I’m still learning new patterns and routes to take when I walk my little dog, Jake. Jake is a rescue dog; part Chihuahua and part something else, but we don’t know what the something else is. He’s always ready when I grab the leash and so happy to be out and about.

As I walk my neighborhood with Jake, most of the time I’m looking down, being careful not to step on little Jake and not to trip over a tree
root or something else that has over grown the walk ways.

Last week as we were walking I noticed something I had never seen before. Crossing a driveway I noticed an imprint in the concrete near the curb: Fred Brown, Contractor, it said. A few yards away further up the street I saw it again - another sidewalk poured by Fred. And then on down the street, I noticed that F.O. Schuller poured quite a few sidewalks and driveways, himself. And they signed their name to their work. In CONCRETE! There’s even a name signed in concrete on the corner of the Light and Life Church. Once upon a time, ordinary workers signed their ordinary work. I’m fairly certain that they did not do so until it was up to standard. And I don’t know that anyone does that much anymore.

A year so ago, Nate the fireman came to our school to do a presentation about Fire Safety Week. Nate fondly told our children that Ms. Flores had been his second grade teacher. And several times I’ve heard Mary Hendricks say “I had that child when he was in 2nd grade”.

TALK ABOUT SIGNING YOUR WORK!!

Every day we get to “sign our work”. We are privileged to make lasting, concrete impressions on the students we teach. We get to leave a legacy. Our entire school will “sign our work” when the class of 2011 graduates in May.

Some years ago Jon Mohr wrote a song in memory of his father-in-law who died after a long battle with cancer. Some time later Steve Green recorded that song. You might recognize the words:

We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road.
And those who’ve gone before us line the way.
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace.

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
Let us run the race not only for the prize.
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.

May all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave,
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

Let’s encourage one another to not merely be up to the standard, but in true PC Cougar style, far exceed what is required. After all, we were handed a grand legacy. Be proud to “sign your work” today!