Hey Reader!

Working with young children is not a “get rich quick (or at all)” career move! For many of us, we’ve heard (or even used) the word “just” as we describe what we do – “I’m just a preschool teacher.” “You just work with little kids.”

At ECCN, we KNOW that our reward is not financial, but we KNOW that our reward is eternal. While our neighbors may not fully understand and value what we do, we know God counts caring for children as one of His highest priorities! (See Mark 10:13-16)

But there is an important practice that we need to revisit often when the days get long and the attitudes start waning a little bit! Pause for a moment and think about why you do this work.

Your why is the reason you keep showing up when the work feels heavy.

When your why is clear:

• You find meaning beyond the paycheck
• You’re less likely to feel like you’re just going through the motions
• Your work feels connected to something bigger than yourself - Kingdom of God-level work

Your why changes how you show up.
​Purpose shapes your presence. It affects how you:

• Engage with children
• Notice the “lightbulb moments”
• Lean into curiosity, conversation, and connection
  ​When you know why you teach, you teach differently.

Your why sustains you on hard days.
​Let’s be honest—there will be:

• Difficult parents
• Tense co-worker dynamics
• Long, exhausting weeks
  ​Your why becomes an anchor. It reminds you to pause, pray, and let God hold you steady in the midst of turmoil.

Your why isn’t fixed—it grows with you.
​You are not the same person you were five or ten years ago. Your why should grow and shift as you do. Staying curious about it helps guard against burnout and shows you what your next faithful step might be.

Without a why, this work becomes routine and more challenging and exhausting.
With a why, it becomes intentional and a source of joy and fulfillment.

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​When was the last time you stopped to ask yourself why you do this work—and does that answer still fit who you are today?

Cheering you on this week!

-Your ECCN team

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Listen to this podcast episode with host Monica Healer now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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