I will soon be fifty years old, and as I look back on my life I am happy to say that I had the blessing to have several good teachers during my young years and early adulthood. But the teachers that affected my life the most and had the greatest influence on me were not those who told me words of wisdom gained from many years of study and experience, they were not those who impressed me through their profound knowledge or their intellect. No, some of my best teachers came into the world weak and helpless, unable to do anything for themselves, they had to be fed when they were hungry, comforted when they felt lonely or in pain, they had to be patted to sleep when they were tired, they could not speak to me in clever words or wise teachings, but only utter strange sounds and noises or cry. Yet, they have taught me so much and made me the man that I am today. One of the very first things that they have taught me was sacrifice and thinking less about myself. In our society today we are constantly told to make sure we feel good, to do the things that are enjoyable and bring us pleasure, to think about ourselves first, but when one of my little teachers arrived in my home, suddenly all these things were not so important anymore and I started to think more what I could do to keep my little teacher happy and well. And strange as it may sound, by sacrificing my time, some of things that I wanted to do for myself, some of the things that I enjoyed doing, I actually became a happier man. I became more fulfilled giving much of my time and energy to my little teachers.

As my little teachers grew bigger they taught me many more things. They taught me understanding. I am by nature not very understanding of how other people feel, I am by nature not patient with people, I get impatient when people are slow in learning and understanding. Many times I would even get upset with my little teachers. I would scold them when they didn't do things right the first time, I would get frustrated when they couldn't understand my explanations, but they were always so patient with me. My little teachers would always come back with a smile and forgive me my outbursts of anger. They never held a grudge as if they knew that I was a slow learner and that they had to be patient teachers with me. Contrary to me they didn't get tired to teach me the same lesson over and over until I got the point. Thanks to them my eyes were opened little by little and I started to be able to understand others better, I started to be able to put myself in their shoes more, to realize how others feel, to see their joy and their pain. None of my teachers in college or university was ever able to teach me that.

There are many more things my little teachers have patiently taught me over the years, such as having a listening ear, to really take time to listen to others. How many people in today's busy lifestyle really take the time to listen to others? They also taught me humility, they let me know when I did things wrong, when I hurt them and that helped me to see how much I needed their help to become more mature and how much there was that I still had to learn. One would think that anybody in their right mind would want to have such good teachers as early in their life as possible and that they would want as many of these special little teachers as possible. That's how it was in times past. But today most people don't think like that anymore. They say, that those little teachers cost too much money, that they take too much of your time, so have them as late as you can and even then try to have only one or two. Many people even decide not to have any at all. Today most people think, first I want to enjoy myself, make lots of money, be my own boss, do all the things I want to do, and then when I am older and set in my ways I will get myself one of those little teachers. Is it any wonder then that in our society there is such a lack of good communication, understanding of others, sympathy for one another, willingness to sacrifice, concern for others and on and on the list goes. Personally I thank God that he sent me nine of those little teachers. I guess God knew that one or two or even three would not be enough to teach me all that I needed to know, since I was such a slow learner. In the Bible we can read about a wonderful future world where everybody will be at peace with each other and where we will finally listen to and learn from our children. It says, "The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." (Isaiah 11:6)

(Alexander and his wife Mercy live in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Together with their nine children they try to bring the love of God into people's lives.)