"Little" Thoughts for the Day: A Book of Encouraging Daily Thoughts for Administrators and Teachers to Share with Their Students
"Little" Thoughts for the Day is a Christian source of encouraging thoughts for pre-school - 5th grade students relating to issues that they often deal with on a daily basis throughout the school year. It can be used by elementary administrators/teachers to help students start their day with uplifting thoughts before beginning their school day or by parents who wish to share the thoughts with their children before they leave for school each day. Formatted according to the school year calendar, “Little” Thoughts for the Day includes thoughts relating to various holidays and school activities that make a “big” difference for “little” people.
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"Little" Thoughts for the Day: A Book of Encouraging Daily Thoughts for Administrators and Teachers to Share with Their Students
"Little" Thoughts for the Day is a Christian source of encouraging thoughts for pre-school - 5th grade students relating to issues that they often deal with on a daily basis throughout the school year. It can be used by elementary administrators/teachers to help students start their day with uplifting thoughts before beginning their school day or by parents who wish to share the thoughts with their children before they leave for school each day. Formatted according to the school year calendar, “Little” Thoughts for the Day includes thoughts relating to various holidays and school activities that make a “big” difference for “little” people.
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"Little" Thoughts for the Day: A Book of Encouraging Daily Thoughts for Administrators and Teachers to Share with Their Students

by Joyce O'Bryant

"Little" Thoughts for the Day: A Book of Encouraging Daily Thoughts for Administrators and Teachers to Share with Their Students

by Joyce O'Bryant

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$14.99 
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Overview

"Little" Thoughts for the Day is a Christian source of encouraging thoughts for pre-school - 5th grade students relating to issues that they often deal with on a daily basis throughout the school year. It can be used by elementary administrators/teachers to help students start their day with uplifting thoughts before beginning their school day or by parents who wish to share the thoughts with their children before they leave for school each day. Formatted according to the school year calendar, “Little” Thoughts for the Day includes thoughts relating to various holidays and school activities that make a “big” difference for “little” people.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781683508052
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Publication date: 08/07/2018
Pages: 240
Product dimensions: 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Joyce O'Bryant was raised in a Christian home in the mountains of Virginia. From there, she attended a Christian college where she met her husband of 41 years. She now lives in Hampton Roads, specifically, Yorktown, Virginia where she attends New Covenant Church in Hampton, Virginia. Joyce has spent the last 25 years working in Christian education. Her experience includes teaching 11th/12th grade college-prep writing, and working as a principal of both a Christian high school and a Christian elementary school.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

SEPTEMBER

Day 1

"I will treat others the way I want them to treat me."

Think about that statement. How do you want to be treated? Do you want people to be ugly to you? Do you want them to accuse you of doing things you didn't do? Do you want them to talk about you behind your back? Of course not. I bet you want others to be kind to you, to be fair with you, and to just treat you in a respectful way. That's what we all want.

Well, if you want others to treat you this way, why shouldn't you treat others the same way? Before you do something that you are not sure of — ask yourself — "Would I want my parents, my friends, my teachers, or anyone else I know to treat me this way?" If the answer is no, then change your behavior. You'll be glad you did.

Our actions speak louder than the words we say. Kind actions bring warm feelings that can never be repaid. We should always stop and ask, how do I want to be treated? Then act that way toward others to show that God's word we have heeded (Author Unknown).

* * *

Dear God,

Thank You for this first day of school. We pray for a good day today. We pray that today, as we are starting a new school year, that we will stop and think about the way we are treating those around us. Help us to treat others kindly; the way You want us to treat them.

* * *

Day 2

"In happy moments, praise God."

As you start a new school year, the smiles on your faces show that you are excited to see your friends and teachers. You will have lots of happy moments each and everyday as you talk with those who are so close to you.

Go into your classroom this year excited to be with those you missed over the summer. Praise God for them as you smile, for He is the one who has brought all of you together.

When we are having those happy moments, we need to stop and praise the One who gives them to us — God. When you do that, God is having a happy moment as well. He is smiling down on you.

Our prayer is that you will have lots of happy moments this new school year. Praise God for them!

* * *

Dear God,

Help us remember to give You praise throughout our day. Thank You for giving us those happy moments and help us be grateful for all You give us daily.

* * *

Day 3

"Each day offers a new start to do my best, as the Lord would have it."

This Thought for the Day basically means that if you have messed up and not done as well in your behavior, or in the way you have been treating others this week, you have a chance to start fresh today and make this day the best it can be. When we have done things that are not pleasing to God, He forgives us when we ask Him to.

Imagine the whiteboard in your classroom and how easily your teacher erases marks that are on it. The same is true when we mess up with God. He erases those "mess-ups" and our slate is clean again. Isn't that a wonderful thought? We do nothing to deserve this from Him, but He loves us so much that He is willing to wipe our sins away when we ask Him to.

We have a chance to start all over with each new day and make it the best we can make it. So let's make this day the best it can be and please the Lord.

* * *

Dear God,

Thank You for this good first week of school. We pray that each of us will start fresh today and do exactly what is asked of us. Help us to remember that You forgive us of those things we do wrong and that You are our strength to start fresh each new day.

* * *

Day 4

"How I look is not nearly as important as how I act."

As we all dress for the day, we take a lot of time deciding what we will be wearing. Girls look lovely in their beautiful dresses, skirts, and pants. Boys are so handsome in their colorful pullover shirts, matching pants, and ties (when they choose to wear them). Everyone works very hard to look great everyday. How we look is very important to all of us.

However, if you are acting in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord, that is going to stand out to everyone, to the point that no one is going to see all those nice things you are wearing. Your behavior is going to take everyone's attention.

Remember to act as nicely as you look. We call that being beautiful and handsome on the inside and outside.

* * *

Dear God,

Help us remember that how we act all the time is so much more important than how we look. Appropriate actions make us look even better. Help us to be good examples for You today and to be beautiful and handsome on the inside, as well as the outside.

* * *

Day 5

"Always remember that you are unique — just like everyone else."

What does unique mean? It means being the only one of its kind. So when we say that you are unique — it means that there is no one else like you. God made you special — there's only one you.

Everybody is different or unique. What a person looks like on the outside has nothing to do with what is inside. Every person has special talents and special qualities given to them by God.

Listen to this short poem: Everyone is unique, Special in their own way, They talk, walk, work, and play, Differently each and everyday, The only thing that's the same, About two people side by side, Is that both were made by God, And with both, He will abide (Author Unknown).

* * *

Dear God,

Thank You for making each of us so special and unique. We know that You have a plan for each and every person on this earth. Help us to use our unique abilities to honor You and to fulfill the plan that You have for us here on earth.

* * *

Day 6

"When I start something, I finish it."

Have you ever seen someone start to do something and then they get caught up in doing something else and never complete the first thing they started? It is very important to complete what we start.

Think about it, if you are in your class and your teacher gives you two worksheets to do and you do a little bit on the first one and then go on to the second one, but never go back to the first one — you probably are not going to make a very good grade.

It is very important that you finish what you start. Whether it be your schoolwork, your chores around the house, helping your teacher, or whatever you start to do — you should always finish what you start.

You may have to remind yourself to stay with a task all the way to the end, but it's worth the reminder to keep yourself focused on what you need to finish.

Get in a habit of staying with what you start and don't go on to anything else until you finish the first thing. This is an important lesson to learn in life. You will always have things you have to do, but stay with one thing until it's finished and then go to the next.

The sooner you learn to do this, the better off you will be. Remember: When you start something, finish it! Things will go better for you if you do.

* * *

Dear God,

Help us to stay focused on the tasks ahead of us and to work hard to complete the things we have to do before going on to something else.

* * *

Day 7

"Everyday is the first day of the rest of my life."

This thought for the day came from a man named L. Vincent Majestic. It is a very powerful statement with lots of meaning behind it.

Think about that. We get up everyday with a brand new day ahead of us, and we can look at it as a brand new start. That's great, isn't it?

It doesn't matter how much we may have messed up the day before because we know the Lord forgives us if we ask Him to. So we can look at each day we have been blessed with as a fresh beginning. A chance to do better.

We should cherish everyday of our lives and look forward to a better, brighter day. Today will not be perfect, but we can make today a day to enjoy.

We have the opportunity everyday to make each new day the best it can be. We have a choice everyday to make this day better than the one before. A fresh start. The first day of the rest of our lives.

* * *

Dear God,

Thank You for fresh starts. Help us to always strive to do better and better and to live a life You are pleased with. Help us to rely upon You daily for guidance and direction.

Help us to start fresh each day and forgive us when we don't get it right.

* * *

Day 8

"When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion."

This Thought for the Day is an Ethiopian proverb with such a great meaning. You know that one spider web by itself is not such a strong thing. We may not like them, and we may be scared of seeing the spider that made it, but they are fairly easy to break through. However, lots of spider webs together are much stronger. And according to this proverb, they can tie up a lion. That's strong, isn't it?

It means that when many weaker things (like people) work together or unite, they can be strong enough to do great things (like the spider webs tying up the lion).

If each of us makes a little effort, we can achieve great things by working together. Don't ever think you are too small to make a difference. If you are working with other people, you can make a big difference. This is important.

If you are working with God at the center of what you are doing, you can do more than you ever imagined. He will see to that.

Simply put, small things can combine to form a big thing. The power of one is small, but the power of many, working together, is mighty.

Think about it, if all of your class works together to do something, you can accomplish a lot. Keep up the good work. Work together to do great things — capture that imaginary lion!

* * *

Dear God,

Help us to remember today that if we work hard and work together, we can do so much more than working only on our own. Help us to be team players — those who want to pitch in and support and encourage others. Help us to look for opportunities to help others and to do our part.

* * *

Day 9

"I will be the best me I can be. I will not be satisfied with a 'so-so' me. I want to learn more each day, set goals and reach new ones each day of my life."

The author of the above Thought for the Day is unknown, but he or she definitely had the right idea when they made the statement. There are many people in the history of our country who have continued to set goals for themselves, who have believed in themselves, and who have done great things because of this attitude.

When we think about these people who refused to give up and who continued to set new goals for themselves and reach them, it is good to look at the difference between a super ball and a raw egg.

A super ball is one of those very hard rubber balls that bounce very high. If you take a super ball and throw it against the wall, what happens? It bounces back. What happens the harder you throw it against the wall? It bounces back faster. What happens to a raw egg when you throw it against a wall? It splatters. The harder you throw it against the wall, the worse it splatters. People who set goals for themselves and continue to work hard to reach them, bounce back. The harder the obstacle, the harder they bounce back (Character Education).

Be the best you can be. You cannot let obstacles, or things that are hard for you, discourage you. You must be like a super ball and bounce back, continuing to give your best. Your goals (what you want to accomplish) should be extremely important to you. Be the best me you can be.

* * *

Dear God,

Help us not to get discouraged, but to work harder to be the best we can be. You have made us in a great way and You have great plans for each of us.

* * *

Day 10

"I will take care of myself by getting enough rest."

Now that you are back in school, I'm sure your schedule has changed quite a bit. A good schedule is extremely important in helping you get enough rest, and in helping you succeed in school. You might wonder why your mom and dad make you have the same bedtime every single night. It's no fun having to go to bed on a schedule, especially if you're not tired. However, they have a reason for sending you to bed when they do.

Think of all the things you do in one day. Most kids wake up and go to school. They do all their school work and then they have homework. Once school work is over, they might go outside and play, and of course, there are chores and other responsibilities they have to handle.

That equals a lot of things for one person. Once all this is done, the average body is tired and ready for some relaxation. Your body needs to be able to calm down from a long day and get ready for the next one tomorrow.

Sleep will not only help you to stay healthy, but it also will keep you smart. Sleep affects nearly every part of your body, even your brain. So when your parents insist that you need to get enough sleep, listen to them. It's very important to get the rest you need — it affects everything you do.

* * *

Dear God,

We know that You have given us our bodies and that we have a responsibility to do what we can to keep them healthy. Help us to use wisdom and to do what we need to in order to keep ourselves healthy.

* * *

Day 11

Patriots Day

"Thank God for our great country and for all those who work so hard to protect it and make it great."

Today we remember all of our First-Responders. Those are the people like the firefighters, policemen, medics and all those who respond in emergency situations.

We also remember those who are in the military, helping to keep our country safe. This is a day to remember that many times people do very dangerous work to make sure that others are kept safe in our country.

We have a very special symbol, the United States flag, to remind us of this great country we live in and all those who work to protect it.

Listen to this poem about our very special flag: Please sit down, everyone, I'm going to tell a story, About our country's famous flag, It's nickname is Old Glory, Stars and stripes are on our flag, They're red and white and blue, It tells the world that we are free, And proud to be here too (Flag Day Poetry).

So take some time today to thank God for our great country and for all those who work so hard during difficult times to make it great.

* * *

Dear God,

Thank You for this great country that we live in. Thank you for all those men and women who work so hard to keep us safe doing very dangerous jobs

* * *

Day 12

"Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done."

Louis D. Brandeis

What does the above Thought for the Day mean? It means that before difficult things were done, most people felt that they could never be done because they were so hard to do. They didn't have faith that anyone could actually do them.

Think about things we've done like flying a plane, going to the moon, curing many diseases, just to mention a few. Men and women have done miraculous things that most people felt could never be done.

So what's the point of this quote? If someone hadn't pursued and continued to make an attempt to do these things, and had given up, most people would still feel they couldn't be done.

You know, when Jesus walked upon this earth, He did miracle after miracle. He did things no one thought could be done — but He was Jesus, wasn't He? But you know what? He has empowered us to do the impossible as well, as long as we keep our eyes on Him. When we focus on Christ, He gives us the power to conquer the impossible. When we lose our focus, He gives us the grace to try again.

We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Believe in yourself by keeping your eyes on the Lord. If you do, you will do great things in this life — even things that may seem impossible to others.

* * *

Dear God

Thank You for loving us and giving us the potential to do great things in this life. Help us to keep our focus on You and Your purpose for us. Help us to do the impossible, Lord, and to give You all the glory.

* * *

Day 13

"An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes."

Cato, the Elder

Now exactly what does our Thought for Today mean? Well, have you ever been really angry before? I'd say most of us would say yes to that question. Well, what happens when you get really angry? When someone is angry, they do not think about what they are saying before they say it and they do not see how much they are hurting others with their words.

So an angry man opens his mouth and says hurtful things and shuts his eyes and doesn't see the people he is hurting with his words. That is never a good thing.

When we get angry, we need to calm down and pray that God will help us control what we say so that we don't say something unkind to others. This is important because when our anger takes over, we say things that we don't mean to say because we are not using our minds to help us choose our words wisely.

So the next time you get angry about something, stop and ask the Lord to help you choose your words carefully. In fact, don't say anything until you have had time to calm down and redirect your thoughts in the right direction — a direction that is pleasing to the Lord.

* * *

Dear God,

Help us, Lord, to monitor our words carefully each and everyday, and especially when we get angry. Help us to not sin against You by saying hurtful things to others. Help us to always ask for Your help and to do the right thing in every situation.

(Continues…)


Excerpted from ""Little" Thoughts for the Day"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Joyce O'Bryant.
Excerpted by permission of Morgan James Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

September: Day 1 – 22,
Patriots Day,
October: Day 1 – 24,
November: 1 – 20,
Thanksgiving,
December: Day 1 – 15,
Christmas,
Christmas,
January: Day 1 – 22,
February: Day 1 – 21,
Valentine's Day,
March: Day 1 – 23,
April: Day 1 – 20,
Easter,
May: Day 1 – 22,
Memorial Day,
June: Day 1 – 14,
About the Author,
Bibliography/References,

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