Lazarus
A child learns and so do I20 total reviews
Comment from lyenochka
What a wonderful story! And what a dedicated teacher to pour that time and caring and love into this little boy who exchanged his charms to a love a reading, thanks to you! Congratulations on placing in the contest!!!
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2020
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What a wonderful story! And what a dedicated teacher to pour that time and caring and love into this little boy who exchanged his charms to a love a reading, thanks to you! Congratulations on placing in the contest!!!
Comment Written 03-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 03-Jul-2020
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Thank you so much for your very thoughtful review.
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Congratulations on your well-deserved prize for this wonderfully uplifting piece--poignant story--beautiful ending--masterfully told. Go Lazarus! Cheers. LIZ
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2020
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Congratulations on your well-deserved prize for this wonderfully uplifting piece--poignant story--beautiful ending--masterfully told. Go Lazarus! Cheers. LIZ
Comment Written 21-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much, Liz.
Comment from Fonda Little
My favorite part was, "On the last day of the program, I gave him a book as a parting gift. He flipped through the pages as I completed some paperwork. Engaged by the colorful illustrations, he began to read aloud. Really read. He continued for three or four sentences, then stopped, his eyes wide. "How come I can do this? We've just been fooling around all summer.", because I can't imagine what that did for you heart to actually witness that!
The Lord led me to this verse after I read this,
Isaiah 40:31
New International Version
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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My favorite part was, "On the last day of the program, I gave him a book as a parting gift. He flipped through the pages as I completed some paperwork. Engaged by the colorful illustrations, he began to read aloud. Really read. He continued for three or four sentences, then stopped, his eyes wide. "How come I can do this? We've just been fooling around all summer.", because I can't imagine what that did for you heart to actually witness that!
The Lord led me to this verse after I read this,
Isaiah 40:31
New International Version
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Comment Written 14-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much for your kind review and for the verse from Isaiah.
Comment from roof35
I loved this story. From rags to riches in his reading life. My son had a teacher like you in first grade and it made all the difference in his life, too. Thank you for sharing this story. It is very well written and I tell it came from your heart.
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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I loved this story. From rags to riches in his reading life. My son had a teacher like you in first grade and it made all the difference in his life, too. Thank you for sharing this story. It is very well written and I tell it came from your heart.
Comment Written 14-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much.
Comment from Karen Estep
I thoroughly enjoyed your story! It had good "bones", as my daddy would say. I liked it the most because I believe your point is well made. We need to stop demanding too much too early from children.
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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I thoroughly enjoyed your story! It had good "bones", as my daddy would say. I liked it the most because I believe your point is well made. We need to stop demanding too much too early from children.
Comment Written 14-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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Amen to that. Thank you so much for your kind review.
Comment from oliver818
What a beautiful story. You described this young boys move from illiteracy into full on book worm so well. I love that he's so surprised when he can read. I remember struggling to read and then once I got it that was it. I don't particularly remember the process though. Thanks for sharing this
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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What a beautiful story. You described this young boys move from illiteracy into full on book worm so well. I love that he's so surprised when he can read. I remember struggling to read and then once I got it that was it. I don't particularly remember the process though. Thanks for sharing this
Comment Written 14-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much. Its heartbreaking for those who never quite get it. I will never forget Lazarus.
Comment from Jake P.
This is an inspiring story. A child with repeated failures having no hope and unwilling to risk another failure. Then with the attention of a caring teacher, exploring learning in a new format and finding the hope needed to succeed.
Wish we could reach them all.
Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2020
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This is an inspiring story. A child with repeated failures having no hope and unwilling to risk another failure. Then with the attention of a caring teacher, exploring learning in a new format and finding the hope needed to succeed.
Wish we could reach them all.
Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 04-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 04-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much. New learning formats would probably help. But I think it would help even more if we had faith in them and stopped checking up on them (I.e. testing) every two minutes.
Comment from Melissa Russell Deur
Wow! This turned out to be quite an emotional story. I teared up when Lazurus said, "How come I can do this?" When he added, "We've just been fooling around all summer," I think he meant how could he have learned to read if you were just having fun and, perhaps, he regretted not having tried harder because he would be a better reader at that moment. I was happy to find out that he'd become a voracious reader!
I wondered what he meant when he said he wished "jiggety jog" was in his book. Did he want to see what the word looked like on paper?
Speaking of hope, you are the teacher that every parent hopes will teach his/her child. What a blessing you were to that little boy!
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Wow! This turned out to be quite an emotional story. I teared up when Lazurus said, "How come I can do this?" When he added, "We've just been fooling around all summer," I think he meant how could he have learned to read if you were just having fun and, perhaps, he regretted not having tried harder because he would be a better reader at that moment. I was happy to find out that he'd become a voracious reader!
I wondered what he meant when he said he wished "jiggety jog" was in his book. Did he want to see what the word looked like on paper?
Speaking of hope, you are the teacher that every parent hopes will teach his/her child. What a blessing you were to that little boy!
Comment Written 03-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much. I think what he was trying to say with the jiggety jog remark was that he wanted some souvenir of his time with me. Maybe it?s vain of me, but speaking in rhymes and jingles was - and is- typical of me,
and he wanted to say he wouldn?t forget me. I treasure that remark, for it was such a Lazarus way of expressing feeling. What a blessing he was to me. Now I?m tearing up. Thanks again for a lovely review.
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I don't think it's vain of you to think he wanted a "souvenir" of you. That's a great thought and a comfort to each of you.
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Thanks again.
Comment from Aiona
This is such a sweet story of redemption. There are grammatically incorrect sentences in there, but they do not detract from the story, and are clearly simply part of your style.
("Quiet as he buckled his searbelt and stared out the window.")
Best of all, it has a happy ending. I am partial to stories with a happy ending, and you manage to keep the reader wondering if it will happen until the end. Well done!
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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This is such a sweet story of redemption. There are grammatically incorrect sentences in there, but they do not detract from the story, and are clearly simply part of your style.
("Quiet as he buckled his searbelt and stared out the window.")
Best of all, it has a happy ending. I am partial to stories with a happy ending, and you manage to keep the reader wondering if it will happen until the end. Well done!
Comment Written 03-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Thanks, for your thoughtful review and for the six star rating. I appreciate your correction. You?re right. I?m jusT partial to sentence fragments.
Comment from Kenneth Gagne
The story was quite engaging. It's always nice when patience and encouragement lead to outcomes such as this one. I like the use of the "thing with feathers" metaphor at the end.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2020
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The story was quite engaging. It's always nice when patience and encouragement lead to outcomes such as this one. I like the use of the "thing with feathers" metaphor at the end.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2020
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Thank you so much, Ken. And thanks to Emily Dickinson.