Teacher shares story of special gift made from the heart of a child
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Diane Andrews of Coalport was an elementary school teacher for almost 40 years, in public and private schools.
"I taught children in grades ranging from nursery school to eighth grade," she said. "Teaching was sometimes demanding, exhausting, and stressful. But, as I look back on my life and watch time running by, I know that teaching was one of my most rewarding times."
Christmas was always so much fun, not only for the students, but for herself as well, she said.
"We managed to squeeze in holiday art projects, read classic Christmas stories and count down the days until Christmas vacation," she said, noting there was a small artificial tree in her classroom decorated by the students, who could make decorations during recess.
Before Christmas break she handed out small gift bags and, quite often, students would give her small presents.
"I opened gifts like mugs, boxes of candy, candles, Christmas decorations, pen sets, stationary, ornaments for my tree, gift certificates … Each gift was so appreciated by me," she said.
But one special present continues to stand out, she said. That year, she thought she had opened all the presents until one student spoke up and got their present for her. It was wrapped in a Weekly Reader newspaper, she said.
"I opened the gift to find a piece of wood, 5 inches high and 9 inches long. The student had colored the word, NOEL, on the wood. The letter N was red, O and E were two shades of green, and L was brown. The background was black. My throat tightened and my eyes were misty as I pulled it from the Weekly Reader newspaper," she said.
She thank the student, who said they got the piece of wood from a woodpile, knowing it would be perfect for the present they wanted to make.
"The gift exchange was over. The students had a little time to visit with each other, clean up their individual areas, and get ready for dismissal," she said.
"I sat at my desk in my swivel chair and turned toward the back wall of my classroom. My eyes were full of tears and my heart was full of thankfulness. I so appreciated the significance of what had just happened," she said.
Now, every year when Christmas arrives, "I pull the Christmas storage boxes out of a closet. I pull out dozens of ornaments. When I place each one on my tree, I remember the children who had given them to me. And, every time I look at that chunk of wood with the handwritten NOEL, I think of that student who took the time to make me a Christmas present."