Letter from the Editor: This gift made me think of you

By Courtney Warren

We have wrapped up another school year! It was an absolute blast. What a blessing it is to wake up every morning excited to go to school. I definitely feel like I’m not a normal teacher in that most of the time we are asked how excited we are for summer – I am rarely ever counting down the days until summer. It’s nice to have a break, but I truly miss being at school. I miss the students, my coworkers, the everyday chaos, and the happiness that permeates the walls of our middle school. 
 

With all of that being said, as many know, the end of the year means gifts - graduation gifts, recital gifts, class gifts, teacher gifts. I love gift giving! I have a section in my notes app dedicated to gift ideas. Any time someone mentions liking something, I open my app and make that note. When it comes time to gift them something, it helps me come up with something I know they’re going to enjoy. 
 

My students ask me all of the time what kinds of gifts I like, and I tell them I literally just love that they have thought of me. They write me notes and bring me trinkets as if they were tiny middle school crows with shiny objects in their beaks, proud to present them to me. It’s no secret that I love dinosaurs, so, this year, I received several homemade dinosaur gifts and Jellycats. However, one of my favorite gifts was, of course, a book. 
 

Our sweet First Lady of school stopped by my room during the book fair, and we had the chance to catch up. As we were talking, we began recommending books to one another. Sidebar – at Christmas, I gift each teacher on my hall a book that reminds me of them and that I think they will enjoy. With the books, I include a note about why I chose that particular book for them. 
 

As we were talking, she recommended Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. I excitedly told her I had been recommended the book so many times, but I was on the waitlist for it at the library and that wait was over seventeen weeks! She said I simply must read it and that I would truly love the story. I told her I’d have to see if I could get my hands on a copy. 

That was on Friday. On Monday, her sweet husband delivered a package to me. It was beautifully wrapped in blue paper with a big satin bow. I tore open the paper to find a hardback copy of Theo of Golden inside with a note that read “Dear Courtney, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Like Theo, you have a beautiful way of lifting others up and making them feel important.” 
 

Cue. The. Tears. 
 

How sweet was this!? My own favorite way of gift-giving was turned around on me. I got Uno reverse card gifted! It was the sweetest thing, and a reminder that while a gift card is easy, thinking of someone makes all the difference. In a world where we are constantly busy, rushed and moving onto the next, I encourage you to take the time to write the note, find the gift and wrap it with a bow. Because the kindest gesture is when you think of someone else. 
Oh, and she was right – Theo of Golden was absolutely wonderful.