On the first day the teacher could clearly see our need.

She patiently looked us up and down, without speed.

She saw two kinds among us, the bound and the freed.

Some of us were enslaved by failures in our varied pasts.

But she was determined to teach, "there are no outcasts."

Believing yesterday's failures are today's potent seeds.

Confident we could grow, even when starting among weeds.

Then some of us were already confident about our speed,

Excited because we had already learned how to follow a lead.

She led with good news! Everyone here can learn to read.

She saw God given potential in every student and deed.

She began by teaching us to accept being planted and cared for,

To her we were like a garden, where there is always more in store.

So much more, it is beyond keeping score.

She believed those who win are those, who every morning plan,

Their tasks for growing their bounty of the day,

And follows that plan, hour by hour, all the way.

No matter how weary we get, in us there will be no quit.

When we need to be advancing, we will not sit.

She taught, "the difference between sand in your face,

And victory metals, lies in setting a consistent pace."

Let us be on our way while it is still day. What do you say?

Let us take full advantage for the gift of sunlight,

For the time is coming when there will be only darkness and night.

If we foolishly fail to use the opportunities of the light of this day,

We will surely fail to fulfill our God given call,

And in the late evening darkness we will begin to slip and fall.

For only when we gather the harvest while it is still light,

Will we fully enjoy the fruits of our God given sight,