Tuesday’s classroom felt calm and reflective after yesterday’s reading. On the board, Ms. Larsen had written in white chalk: “Mission #22 – Say thank you for what you’ve been given.” Underneath, she’d added a small note: Write a card to Jesus, to God, or simply to express gratitude for the year that has passed.
No one rushed to start. This wasn’t an easy assignment — not because it was hard, but because it was personal. Emma began slowly: “Dear God, thank you for my family, for my friends, and for helping me see how much I have.” She smiled to herself, realizing she’d never actually written a letter like that before.
Jonas hesitated, then started: “Hey God — thanks for giving me more patience than I used to have. Still working on it, but progress counts, right?” He chuckled quietly and kept writing. Ida’s note was more solemn. She wrote about her grandmother’s recovery, about peace in her family, and ended with, “Thank you for listening, even when I forget to speak.”
When Ms. Larsen invited volunteers to share, only a few did — but the ones who did spoke softly, sincerely. “This,” Ms. Larsen said, “is what faith looks like in everyday life — gratitude, not grand gestures.”
Before leaving, the students placed their envelopes in a small basket on her desk. “You don’t have to send them anywhere,” she said. “They’ve already been received.”
That night, across the town, many homes felt a little lighter. And while the cards stayed sealed in Ms. Larsen’s classroom, the gratitude inside them had already done its work — turning reflection into quiet peace.