What Do Human Beings Need To Survive? 

- A Seven-Year Olds' Perspective - 

Perhaps with school ending in a few days (*fist pump*), my posts will revert back to my own personal thoughts rather than comical stories from the classroom.  Or perhaps not.  But until then, here's one more...


We were discussing the differences between 'needs' and 'wants' of human beings.  The students were giving great examples of things they might want, and then we began making a list of the basic needs that all human beings need to survive.  


The answers we were shooting for were: air, water, food, clothing, shelter and space.


At this point once all these were written on the board, I felt like our list was complete and we could move on.  Then another hand shot up.

"Human beings need God."


Alright, I momentarily freeze as I begin processing how to proceed with such an answer, so...yes, according to my perspective and this 7 year old child, I would definitely agree with his statement. However, we are in a public school so this is a bit of a tender issue.




My response... "Well...do we really need God or want God?"


I remember mentally shaking my head as I asked this question...duh - dumb question, of course human beings 'need' God, but technically I was just looking for the 6 things on our list that fit into the curriculum, and God wasn't on there.


His response, "We NEED God."


I stand corrected.  While this particular student would not be one that I would put into the 'Christian' category due to his daily antics, I am thankful for little moments like this when such tidbits of truth sneak their way into life.


To sum up, human beings actually need seven things to survive, and God is number one.

Normally, when the students in my class say funny things, I'm able to stay composed and not laugh out loud at them, but only in my head.  Here are just two recent examples when this was not possible.


We are learning about symbols of Canada...so we discussed the symbols on our Canadian coins.


"Alright, who knows what the maple leaf is on?"  I asked.
"The penny."
"That's right.  And what is the beaver on?"
"A log."




While walking back to the school after a practice drill on the field, the students were suppose to walk back to the school silently.  However, this silence was broken when one of my students hollered from the line, "Miss Jacobson, Andy's pants are backwards."
I froze.  I turned around with raised eyebrows and asked, "Andy...are your pants backwards?"
He stepped out of line, looked down in surprise, and I saw the bum pockets clearly at his front.
I burst out laughing.
Poor kid, this obviously explained why he had been sitting so funny in class all morning.

Mothers are very special people

"Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her."
Psalm 31:25-28

I've been meaning to post for a while...and have another post half written.  However, Mother's Day is indeed in need of a post, because I have an amazing mother.

For those of you who know my mother, you know what a gem she is.  She is a woman of prayer, and woman of love, who is continually giving of herself and blessing others.  She has taught me to trust and believe in the faithfulness of God, solely by the way she lives her life, and I am grateful to her for that.  She is my greatest confidant, and also the woman I fear most, because I never know when she will pop out of a closet or from behind my bedroom door and scare me to death.  

Mom, I love you. :)

Today, as I was sending my students out the door with their Mother's day cards and gifts, I wished some of the mom's 'Happy Mother's Day'.  On their way, one of the mom's also wished me a 'Happy Mother's Day' and then stopped a moment and asked, "Wait, do you have kids?"  I responded with, "Well...kind of...24 of them."  Lord willing, I look forward to being one one day in the future.  However, this time in my life, I'm quite content getting my fill of kids every day at school. 

I also had another conversation with some girls in my class today, who also seem to be in no rush to get married: 

"Happy Mother's Day Miss Jacobson."  
"Haha, well thank you."
"Do you have kids?"
"Nope."
"Are you married?"
"Nope."
Shocked face.
"I know...so, when are you going to get married?"
"I'm going to go my whole life without a husband, and then I'll get one."
"Wow...so you'll live life a bit before you marry."
"Yup."
"Wise girl.  What about you Cathy, how old will you be when you get married?"
"Hmm...probably 30."


All in all, this is my shout out and thank you to my mom, and all the other women in my life who have treated me as a daughter, and have given me their time, wisdom, and love.  Mom's are special people.