Well I had taken some time off from writing as life has thrown a few changes my way and I have had to focus on starting a new career. Its been an interesting transition but yesterday was meet the teacher for my second year of teaching and I really needed to see the kids God has decided to bless me with and challenge me to care for and show His love to this year.
There have been many days during my first year teaching that I have wondered what I was doing and what sort of mistake I had made. Sometimes teaching is a thankless, stressful and extremely disappointing career choice. Kids will drive you crazy, you see parents who can be part of the problem and then there is all the paperwork. However, when the students you taught last year or even years ago come by to visit you you realize the impact you have had and can have on them and all the other children that God has entrusted to your care as you teach. It's not an easy choice but; that is what it really is, its a choice that you make as an adult to give of yourself, your time, your emotions and your family to the developing of lives that one day may guide the country and control the world. While teachers come from a multitude of backgrounds and belief systems they all understand what is at stake if we fail at this task. So I guess this is were I ask myself who do I want my students to see when they look at me.The man who can have a short temper and be unloving or the follower of Christ who knows that Jesus loves every human being and sees value in them that is worthy of His sacrifice on the cross. Today I plan to follow the path that leads to them seeing Jesus. Scripture tells us, " 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14. If I can stay on that narrow path hopefully some of those who follow on will find it also.
There was a song on the radio a few years ago that the told the story of a father who one day realized that his child was growing up to be just like him and he did not want that to happen. He decided in that moment to follow Jesus so that his son could follow Jesus. The verse that stuck in my head is, "I want to be more like you, because he wants to be just like me!" As a teacher, parent friend and colleague who are people seeing. We influence people with everything we do or say do they see us or are we showing them something greater than us. As individuals we will find it hard to love our students and coworkers at times. However, if we love them because Jesus loves them we can do it.
Be blessed take a moment to enjoy the song from Phillips, Craig and Dean.
