I will be honest, things have been a little crazy, and not so good lately. I know that with every great experience in which God is glorified, Satan does his best to attack and tear one down. This has been evident in almost every area of my life over the past few weeks. From struggles at work to struggles at home. But today was different.
I woke up and hour and a half late to discover I should have already left for work, but neglected to set my alarm. So after a quick shower,I ran out the door, knowing I did not take time to seek God and to be with Him, as I usually do. I remember thinking on my way to work that this was not the best decision! But,God had other plans.
If for some reason you don't know what I do each day...I teach...well, that might not be accurate. I have a classroom of 8 junior high age students that have some type of severe emotional disturbance. I really feel that my job isn't always about teaching what the state standards say, but instead my job is about providing stability and emotional support. Some days I get to teach a real lesson or two,and other days I am lucky to get through "How was your evening" without a major crisis.
As the day began to unfold, everything around me crumbled. The secretary was out, the teacher next door was taken to the hospital when her back went out, lunches were not accurate ( a long story in itself), but yet none of that mattered today. Instead, God gave me a gift, a lesson...
A few weeks ago, a new student arrived in my class. This kid is unlike any I have ever had in my class. Today, I had the chance to sit and work with him. As I did, Brandon Heath's song "Love Never Fails" played over and over in my head. I watched this student's eyes sparkle as he told me stories and as he caught on to what he was learning. If I didn't know his story, and hadn't witnessed the other side for myself, I would have thought he was a typical teen. After this time, I also had to meet with his family. As I listened to their story, my thoughts were on how their love never fails this child and how through their love, they have such hope for him. As the grandmother said to me through tears,"Tell me what I need to do. What more can I do to help him?" All I could say was, "You are doing it. Be there for him." I wish I could answer their questions and tell them the magical formula to change this. But I can't. Instead,I have the promise of a God who loves us and will never fail us.
When I finally had a chance to sit down today and just watch my students, I realized that I am their student and they are teaching me. I thought of the verse, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV). I have never thought of this verse as it pertains to all relationships in my life or even to my job. But watching my students today, I realized that this is what God was calling me to do right now. Love each and everyone as he does...patiently, with hope, with a clean slate each and every minute. Why? Because this is how He loves me, and this is what it means to follow Him.
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