In the best of times, children can find school and learning challenging. These times of ours are not easy, and the challenges of remote learning, anxiety over the pandemic, and society’s urgent calls for social justice are presenting even more challenges. Maybe we long for the days when remembering to do homework was our biggest concern.
When we teach our children, we recognize that they are unique persons learning in a particular moment. Some conditions we cannot control, and we navigate the best we can. We value learning because we know it is liberating; it helps us reflect on and enrich our humanity, and helps us grow to become who God calls us to be. “I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1d)
I recall a story about a little boy of eight who played on a sports team one summer. He was younger and less skilled than his teammates. As the season went on, it wasn’t fun anymore. His parents knew he was struggling. After several weeks he told his parents he wanted to quit the team and asked them to return his uniform. His parents explained that he did not have to continue if he found no joy in playing. They also helped him understand that it was his uniform and his team; and that he had to take responsibility for his relationship with the team and return the uniform himself. After some discernment, he decided to persevere for the remainder of the season.
Responsibility for our relationships with one another is at the heart of our faith. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches God’s Kingdom of justice and peace and how close it is to us. We are called to embrace the Kingdom and let it shape our lives (Mark 1:15). We are one human family, in relationship with one another, daughters and sons of the same Father.
As we confront the challenges before us, let us ask the Lord to help us teach our children to be responsible persons, to value relationships, and to cherish the life and dignity of all God’s people.
“Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.” (Psalm 85:11)
What experience or story from your life helped you form your sense of responsibility to others, your understanding of our common humanity, your experience of God’s Kingdom?