A Tribute to the students at Sandy Hook

What you are about to read is an email that is circulating around schools in Ohio. My brother, a teacher at Tallmadge, passed it on to me. It is worth passing on! May we continually look for ways to share the true hope to a lost world!

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When I arrived at school  this morning an Instructional Assistant here at WPS, had put the following poem on my desk. It was definitely great timing on her part, for me to  read it this morning before our Staff Christmas Breakfast. As a staff, we then prayed for the families and our colleagues in Connecticut.  I wanted to pass the poem on to you as you leave for Christmas vacation. As we each enjoy our families and celebrate Jesus' birth, let's also remember that some are mourning and pray for them. The poem was written by Cameo Smith who lives in Penn.

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when  20 beautiful  children stormed through heaven's gate.

their smiles  were contagious their laughter filled the air.

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

they were filed with such joy they didn't know what to say

they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"this is heaven." declared a small boy  "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

when what to their wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their Savior, the children gathered hear.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.

those children all flew into the arms of their King

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

one small  girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

and as if He could read all the questions she had

He gently whispered to her, I'll take care of mom and dad."

then He looked down on earth, the world far below

He saw all  of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe

then He  closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

"I'm taking back my nation.  I'm taking back my schools!"

then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"come now my children, let me show you around.
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

I know there are grammatical and punctuation errors, but perhaps the author intended it to be that way in light of the fact that 6 and 7 year olds would have written a poem this way. I consciously did not make the corrections. 

May each of you have a Very Merry Christmas as you celebrate Jesus' birth with your family and friends.

 Karen

Principal

Woodridge Primary School