This morning began with a sinking feeling when the phone rang at 6:30 am.  Never a good sign.  Then the double-whammy when the phone rang again.  Two staff members out in one day.  Ouch.  And two conferences scheduled on top of that.  I left for school trying to figure out how to insure that the day wouldn’t feel stressful, harried, and wearisome.

Well, there’s nothing like a class full of kids consuming learning like it’s the best meal ever laid in front of them.  That definitely put a sweet spin on the day.  Then, about half-way through the morning, a Children’s House student came into the elementary class and invited me to join her for “special snack.”  In each Children’s House classroom the students have been practicing their manners by serving a “special snack” to a student or teacher.  I was honored by the invitation, but also aware of the fact that we were down a teacher in the elementary.  I glanced at Emmy to see what she thought and she gave me a nod.  I looked around the classroom and realized that the elementary students were humming away and a five- or ten-minute absence on my part wouldn’t be detrimental.

I followed the child into her classroom and after we washed our hands, she invited me to have a seat at a lovely little table with a table cloth and vase of flowers.  She carefully put a placemat in front of me, brought over a napkin, and proceeded to set her own place as well.  When she went over to the counter to prepare the special snack, however, she realized that there was only enough bread, cream cheese, and jam available for one serving.  After checking with the teacher, who confirmed that, indeed, that was all the food available for today, she did the most lovely thing.  She prepared the snack for me, and as she served me she said graciously, “I’m not feeling very hungry.”

I was stunned.  This particular child has been known to throw herself onto the floor to protest the fact that someone else has gotten to have snack before her.  And here she was, offering the last of the special snack to me, her guest.  

My ten-minutes in the Children’s House, enjoying that special snack, were perhaps the best part of my day.  I was able to watch the many children in the room go about their morning activity – measuring, pouring, dusting, woodworking, calculating, drawing.  It was inspiring, peaceful, remarkable, and joyful.  And I was able to watch a child put my needs as her guest before her own.  Within those few minutes of witnessing these small, but profound acts, my hope for the future swelled within my chest.