To the Journal editor;

I’m sitting down after a day of reflection prayer and reflection working on my Trinity Sunday sermon.

Our schools are experiencing more and more intolerance, new forms of bullying, expressions of hate, and worst of all violence. My time as an elder and preacher in the PCUSA made me wonder where we are going wrong as a society.

People have said we have become too weak or we have gotten too tough. What I see is two things. The middle way is lost and love is gone.

I heard an article a couple years ago about Birchview Elementary School’s principal making the announcement every morning in his K-4 building, “If no one has said they loved you this morning just know that I love you.”

Something simple as showing a child love and compassion can go a long way. It does not show softness nor weakness. What it shows is that someone is out there caring for them. With all the anger and hate out there we need to find that way, that grounding point, to show our children that they are loved and cared for.

This comes from the heart of a teacher that sees the anger and hate that students bring out on each other. Please, consider helping our children by loving and caring for them.