Pioneer Christian School

POSTED BY Mrs. Anthony IN Articles

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Character is a common word, but is not always a common attribute in today’s society. What kind of character am I talking about? Well, we can think of a “character” as the main figure in a story or play. A “character” may also mean a mark made in writing. Some individuals have even been described as being “quite the character!”

These are all correct definitions for the word character, but these are not the definitions for character that I want to focus on right now. Webster’s student dictionary defines character as “the group of qualities that make a person, group, or thing different from others.” As a Christian educator, my goal is not only to encourage character in students’ lives in order to make them “different” from others, but rather, that they may be “like” Christ.

In our classroom we strive to learn and practice godly character so that we may be growing more in the image of Christ and that the world might see a difference in us. Each week the students are challenged to learn about a new character trait. These traits include honesty, diligence, respect, love, humility, as well as many others. Each character trait is accompanied by a passage of Scripture that the student learns and memorizes. The purpose of this memorization is that they may see from Godʼs Word, and commit to remembrance, the importance of the particular trait in their Christian walk.

Through these times of character “discipling,” it has been amazing to see God at work in the lives of my students and myself. Each week the students have taken hold of the trait they are given and have really striven to put it into practice in their own lives. I have been encouraged and challenged as I have seen these children showing love, respect, joyfulness, diligence, and many other positive character traits in their lives. This class truly has a heart’s desire to please God and honor Him with their words and thoughts and actions. Their love for Him and their tenderness to His molding in their lives is continually a challenge in my own daily walk with Christ.

I encourage you, as you see your child’s weekly character trait and verse on our Web site, to be challenged and growing with them as we all seek to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.