Lessons from the light in a child’s eyes

A lot of people I talk to have described the moment when it clicked for them, essentially the moment when they realized the impact of their work.

I’ve had a few moments I’m sure in journalism where I understood the importance of the work, the importance that compassion, empathy and integrity. Those moments I listened to a mother cry after the tragic loss of a son or I sat among family friends of a widow who lost her husband to a senseless shooting. I’ve understood the impact of living and working in such a way that integrity is the centerpiece of every aspect.

But something happened to me the other day as I stood at a table at a career fair in front of elementary students. PR is not for the weak but it is truly the best job ever if you love people and you believe in your brand/company/its mission and the power of positivity!

I had never participated in an event like that and frankly I didn’t know what to say really. “Hey, kids, This is my job and you can do it too!”

But a thought came to me to tell those kids that they could be anything they wanted to be if they worked hard for it, believed in themselves and never let anyone discourage them. I didn’t get to tell every group that came through in our 2 minute rotation. But there were some kids I did get to encourage with that truth.

I hope that it impacted them as much as it impacted me.

I’ve heard teachers go on and on about those ah ha moments when the light bulb goes off and kids grasp a concept.

I guess I kind of saw one and had one at the same time.

I’ve heard people say the job becomes real for them in education when they have a child.

But in that moment it all hit me.

I watched a child’s eyes light up and with the cutest buck toothed grin, he told me from deep in his heart “thank you.”

Other kids also shared that light. I even got a laugh when I asked them what they thought the word “discourage” meant. Let’s just say that had that down pat.

But that moment will stick with me forever. I asked them what they learned that day and another child echoed the words back to me, “I can be anything.”

Some would say don’t lie to children. They will face obstacles and society isn’t exactly an easy path for most. For lots of our kids, the odds are stacked against them.

But the thing about us as humans is that we are resilient and we are pretty good at beating the odds.

God has taken me to places and people I never dreamed of. He’s put me on adventures I thought were out of a book. And He’s not finished yet!

And He used that little child to teach me how important it is each day to believe in our youth, to build them up and encourage them.

In a world that tells them they aren’t good enough, they need truth tellers to flip the script and remind them that God has a plan for their life. The sky is the limit for their potential if they will believe, have faith, and commit themselves to the work and to Jesus Christ.

The same is true for you and me.

Thank You, God, for Your Love and Your plans for us. They are too great to count!

”That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” - ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬