LOVED BEYOND MEASURE

Have you ever had something so profound placed on your heart that you could not ignore it?

 In March of 2022, “Loved Beyond Measure” was placed upon the hearts of a teacher and mother, after observing the way that loving, encouraging, and truly seeing another person could change their life. It may have been a simple smile at the grocery store, a card sent to a friend or stranger, a word of encouragement left in a laundromat, grocery store, or on a rock in a park. As they took note of the way that encouragement transforms lives, God began working in Eryca’s heart. 

As she reflected on her previous 20 years of teaching, He began to show how little things…a smile, a high five, a postcard sent home, a positive note to a parent about their child, or providing prizes in her classroom was encouraging her students and changing their lives…it was at that moment that Eryca knew there was a need in schools across the world to encourage students. These simple acts of kindness were changing her student’s lives, but what if there was something bigger that could be done across the world? She had just witnessed the greatest isolation of her generation during COVID, yet also the greatest outpouring of encouragement and neighbors truly loving neighbors. 

What if those same adults who were changing their community, and leaving their legacy could do just that for the younger generation?

 What if one caring adult saved the life of a child feeling despair? 

What if one caring adult was the support that a student needed to achieve their dreams? 

What if loving, encouraging, and seeing students was the one thing that would change the world to be a kinder, more loving place?

Eryca quickly reached out to her best friend, Christen, and shared with her what God was stirring in her heart. Christen was a newly single mom of four children who had recently gone through a divorce. As Eryca explained her vision, tears came to Christen’s eyes as she realized her very own children were in need of this very same encouragement. She wanted her children to know how special they are, how loved they are, and that even though there will be struggles and ups and downs in life, that there are people who will walk alongside them, encourage them, and love them for who they are. She believed that having support and encouragement from someone other than just family members and peers can play a monumental role in her children’s journeys. She wants them to have every opportunity to succeed, and to feel their worth.

Loved Beyond Measure was established at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year at Elkhorn Area Middle School, where Eryca is a 6th grade science teacher and Christen is a parent. The program started with just 13 students, and during that year, Loved Beyond Measure grew to walk alongside 143 students! This growth made it obvious to Eryca and Christen that there is a need to walk alongside students and their families.  They look forward to watching the dreams placed upon their hearts grow throughout their rural community of Elkhorn, WI, and around the world, as “Loved Beyond Measure” provides something all humans need…love, encouragement, and to be seen.