Your Box of Crayons
It’s the beginning of a school year. The excitement of everything new is running high. New backpacks, new pencil cases, new rulers, new scissors, and NEW CRAYONS. Older students might tuck a bag of last year’s crayons into their desk, but there is magic in a Grade Oner’s eyes as they open their box of new, perfect crayons. The colours are all organized properly and the tips sharp. Carefully, they select the first one to use and put it back with a rather sad look at the damaged tip.
The box is full of fun. Silly names that bring giggles. Metallic colours that are – oh – so amazing! Colours that are shoved aside because they’re “ugly”. And of course, “This is my best colour.”
A few weeks in, the tips are dulled and broken. Some crayons shortened by a lot of sharpening. “Ugly” crayons suddenly have proven their use. Some, beautiful at first, aren’t useful in most colouring – like that white one that just doesn’t show. Favourite colours barely touched for fear of ruining them. And favourite colours already short from overuse.
Well teacher, you’re about to open your brand new box of crayons. The first day you stand in front of your class, you’ll see all your bright and tidy crayons organized in their places. Some are beautiful. Some look funny. Some have weird names. Some really don’t look too bright. Some sparkle like glitter. And you can’t wait to see what kind of a picture their colours will make.
A month from now, you’ll open that same box and it’ll look a bit different. Some that were first bright appear a little dull. Some that looked dull have shown unexpected colour and use. The ones with funny names just belong now. That one has irritating tendencies. This one – just when you think it’ll be right will suddenly just not match the situation. And still another looks funny, has dull wrapping, but oh – you love it a lot.
That’s your classroom. Children full of personality. Children waiting to be discovered. Some will be harder to love. Things you didn’t expect are going to show up as the school days wear. But the important part is that they all belong in your box. Each one of them is needed to make up the picture. You need dull to complement bright. You need slow to counter fast. Would it be easier if they were all the same? Sure. But would you be excited to open a box of 24 Brick Red crayons? Each one makes up the spectrum. And each one needs love and attention. You’ve been the job of making each one shine – even the white one.
So when the days get tough and you’re struggling to love them all, remember – you need brown to colour chocolate, you need gray to colour dolphins, you need lemon-lime to show your drinking Mountain Dew. You’ll find each ones’ place. You’ll learn to love them all as your very own box of crayons.
