I am currently reading the book “Surprised by Oxford” by Carolyn Weber and was struck by the following paragraph.
“Dorothy Sayers wrote, ‘The greatest sin of the Christian is to be joyless,’’ the speaker began. “As reflective and active Christians, one of our most important duties is to be joyful. This may sound like an oxymoron” – he chuckled – “but it’s a good reminder that ‘all joy reminds,’ and that, as recipients of grace, we have much to be joyful about.”
Wow!! The greatest sin is to be joyless – those are strong words. Even if it is not the greatest sin, it is true that we are told to be joyful. Sometimes, that can be challenging. When hurricanes cause damage and heartache, when there is loss of life, loss of a job, losing loved ones to a move, these events can challenge our joy. Of course, it is natural that there is hurt and sorrow, but through it all, it is important to remember the source of our joy and the wonderful things that the Lord has done and continues to do for us all daily.
How does this translate into the classroom? How can we display and expect joy in the classroom? Do our students find joy in the little things?
There are things that we, as teachers, can do to add joy to the day. That is our responsibility. Joy is necessary. School should not be drudgery. I love going into classrooms and seeing the student take joy in the learning. They are smiling and happy. Their teachers do what they can to bring joy. Competitions, games, learning outside, celebrating large and small achievements, the list goes on.
Let us be full of JOY – Jesus – Others – You!
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I love this blog entry ! I agree 100% that it is the teacher who helps to create joy in the classroom.Students should look forward to coming to school each day. Great excerpt and thoughts. .
Thank you, Tracy, for your response. I love seeing joy on the faces of students in classrooms.
Thank you for sharing this blog. "The greatest sin is to be joyless" is so powerful. What a beautiful reminder that the source of joy is always accessible, no matter the situation. It's a choice we make to seek Him. I am surrounded by joyful students impacted by teachers and staff who make this choice every day, and I am very grateful. This was an encouraging reminder; thank you!
I agree, it's a powerful quote and a good reminder. As a classroom teacher, I worked hard to always try to model joy for my students. However, it's important to remember that joy can be a real struggle for people - either through circumstances or mental health issues.
Irony it is! You cannot teach joy but you can make it happen in a classroom. I know my children enjoy learning when they have a teacher that shows joy in teaching. It is contagious.
I also can relate to the fact that children respond positively to their teacher's joy, both in little and big things. Always, "the joy of the Lord is our strength." But do we allow ourselves to practically feel, choose, and model that joy? This is very thought provoking for me tonight.