“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.“ Matthew 5:13, NLT

“Mrs. P, you’re awfully salty today…but when you’re salty, you’re not truly salty. You’re like…‘Himalayan salty.’ Pink, pretty, and nice even through the saltiness.”

I burst out laughing. What a creative young man to come up with such a metaphor!

From there, he went on to create a whole new personality typing system based on different types of salt. He deemed our assistant principal, Mrs. Cecil “Mrs. Sea Salt,” my father, who administers driver’s tests as “road salt,” and my mother who came in and helped teach my students about the Passover during our religions unit as “Kosher salt.”

In the Old Testament, salt was used for a lot more than just seasoning—it was also a preservative and a covenant symbol. And when we read Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13, we understand the value and significance of the salt’s flavor—if it lost its flavor, it was rendered useless, thrown out, and trampled underfoot. With this in mind, if Jesus says we are the salt of the earth, then this question should challenge us: Are we preserving Christ in our classrooms, or have we lost our “flavor?”

In a modern context, being “salty” carries a negative connotation. But I want to challenge you to be, as my student suggested, “Himalayan salty”—pink, pretty, and nice even through the challenges and difficulties of being an educator. Our influence should be a positive light that stands out, bringing out the beauty in every situation.

Let’s ask ourselves today, Am I flavorful? Am I genuinely being the salt of the earth in my classroom? Am I reflecting Christ in my actions, attitude, and interactions?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminders in Your Word, especially in Matthew 5:13, about being the salt of the earth. May our lives, like salt, preserve and flavor Your calling on our lives. As educators, help us positively influence others, bringing out the beauty in every situation. Strengthen us to reflect Your light and love in our classrooms and workplaces. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Copyright Morgan Preston.

Morgan is a former middle school language arts and social studies teacher. She is currently Christian Educators’ Marketing and Communications Coordinator and serves her middle school students and teachers through First Priority.