On the day that I graduate from college with my bachelor’s degree, my dad graduated from high school with his GED.

I don’t know who he was proudest of, me or himself.

My dad was one of many who missed out on school during the Great Depression because they were forced to go to work to help support the family. For my dad, that happened when he was in eighth grade. His dad had died a few years earlier and all his brothers were much older and had moved out of the house. It was him and his mom and times were very tough.

As I grew up, my dad, who was exceptionally intelligent and self-educated, often talked about the blessing of education and the gift of knowledge.

Fortunately, most of our children have not been deprived of either, but there are many across the country and around the world who are. I think we give our children a gift when we help them understand that our ability and opportunity to learn is a blessing that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

And surely, our ability to learn and to make wise choices with our knowledge is a gift from God. Scripture teaches us about the gift of knowledge and the value of learning. Psalm 18:15 reminds us, “The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

Students will learn about the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit at some point during their religion classes, so they will learn that three of those gifts are Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge. The tendency is often to memorize the list but never enter into any in-depth discussion about what the three are, how they are different from each other and how they are connected.

As Catholics, we believe in God as relational, being in a relationship with each of his children. To help us live in relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters God instills in us a need to learn, a need for wisdom to make good, godly judgements based on our understanding of the knowledge we have gained during our lifetimes.

How can we encourage our children and youth to value these gifts of God?

Provide opportunities for students to demonstrate something they have learned, whether it was in a class or on their own. Ask them to share the different ways in which they learn. Undoubtedly, they will talk about social media, but encourage them to think about reading, investigating with microscopes or telescopes, or what they’ve learned from adults who share their knowledge.

Share your knowledge with your studentsTeachers often get caught up in the lesson plan and forget that they own a wealth of knowledge on things outside of the class material. Enthusiasm about knowledge is contagious and makes teachers excellent role models for students. Do you garden, play chess, play an instrument, bake, do calligraphy, build models”? The list is endless, but each one of these specialties are more than just a hobby. They require a unique knowledge that can be shared.

Gather motivational stories about people whose lives were changed by knowledge. Fellow teachers or school staff may have stories to share or check with the school or local librarian for age-appropriate books. One story that comes to mind is that of Helen Keller, who lost both her sight and her hearing as a baby. She became a prolific author and the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She said, “Knowledge is happiness, because to have knowledge – broad, deep knowledge – Is to know true ends from false, and lofty things from low.”

Helen also had a great love for God, who she said, “is very near each one of us.” Helen shared her feelings that “It is so pleasant to learn about new things. Every day I find how little I know, but I do not feel discouraged since God has given me an eternity in which to learn more.”

Ask questions on a regular basis. At the end of every day, ask a few students, “What’s one thing you learned today?” When students come back to school after the weekend, or a vacation, ask, “What did you learn while you were away?” The repetitive question encourages students’ understanding that learning new things can happen anywhere at any time, and is something worthy of sharing.

Talk about knowledge as a gift from God.Scripture is full of teaching about the source of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Here are a few quotes:

• Proverbs 2:6 – For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Isaiah 11:2 – The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.
• Psalms 119:66 – Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commandments I trust.

For teacher reflection: "The gift of knowledge puts us in tune with God's gaze on things and on people. …Through this spiritual gift, we are enabled to see every person, and the world around us, in the light of God's loving plan." ~ Pope Francis

About the Author
Mary Clifford Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to ten, is a Catholic journalist, editor, and author who has served the Dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, Vermont, and RENEW International in the areas of religious education and communication.