Anyway...... The second grade was using the Gym for their Sock Hop so we (all the rotation teachers) took the kids outside on to the playground. The kids loved having the extra time outside.
Well, the only problem was that the kiddo's all wanted to stand by the Gym door and watch the Second grade party. We would have to shoo them away from the door about every fifteen minutes.
Well.. I sat down on the bench around the corner and was chatting with the computer teacher when two little girls ran up and told me one of the other little boys in the class opened the door to the gym to watch the party.
Of course that was a big no no so I asked the girls to have the little boy come over so I could chat with him. Now I'm going to call this little fella "R" ..
When "R" got up to me I politely asked him...
"R" did you open the door to the gym to watch the second grade party?"
"No, I didn't I promise"
"Are you sure you didn't open the door? "
" I Didn't open the door!!"
"Well, here's my problem.. I have some witnesses that said that you opened the door, why would they tell me that if you didn't really do it"
" I don't know... I'm telling the truth I didn't do it"
Well, I knew that he had done it b/c "R" is a great kid... but he likes to push his luck ....A LOT! lol
So I told him that even if he did it, he would get in a lot less trouble if he told me the truth than if he lied.
He continued to plead his innocence so I told him
"Why don't you have a seat and think about whether or not you are telling me the truth"
So he went to the side of the playground and had a seat just like I told him and sat with his head in his hands. He looked up a few times and I would ask him if he was ready to chat and he would just shake his head no.
About three or so minutes later (Which seems like a century to a kid on the playground, lol) he came up to me and told me he was ready to talk and he confessed to opening the door to look at the second grade.
first I thanked him for telling me the truth and I asked him if him opening the door was a good or bad choice. He told me bad. Then I asked him if telling me the truth was a good or bad choice... he told me good. And last, I asked him if lying to me was a good choice or a bad choice. He said bad. So after discussing with him the definition of trust, I explained to him that since he had told a lie he had to go sit out again.
So this time I only let him sit out for about a minute or two (because he was getting a little teary) and I called him back up to me. I asked him why he had to sit out the second time.. he said "Because I lied" I said "thats exactly right, how many times would you have had to sit out if you had told the truth?" He said "once" I said "yep, thats right... are you going to lie to me again?" "no ma'am" "You promise?" " I promise" Then I gave him a hug and told him to go play and he ran off with a smile on his face.
The whole ordeal really made me smile. I absolutely love working with kids when they are young and impressionable.
Which brings me to my next point.....
For me, the time that I really learn and understand something from God's Word... is when I think of God as my father. Yes... he is my father, he is everyones father.. but what I mean is thinking of what he does for me as a father.
I don't know if its the fact that I'm a teacher, or the fact that I'm at the point in my life where i really want children of my own, but I really relate to the caregiver role.... For example... in BSF we were discussing Isaiah (like we have been all year) and we got to chapter 42... and this is the passage that really spoke to me ..
5 This is what God the LORD says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
The part that really hits me is in verse six... " I will take your hand". He is saying that he will take our hand and guide us .... He will guide us in the direction he wants... he will take us where he wants us to go. He will keep us safe. Do we not do this for our Children?
I kind of picture a particular scenario in my mind... like maybe a crowded mall.. or somewhere where you might feel your child is in danger? Do you not grab their hand and take them to safety? Sometimes drag them even....
That is what God does for us. He is our protector...He takes our hand, pulls us near, and guides us to safety. How comforting is that!?!? I picture God taking my hand and pulling me right to his side where I cling to him. That is just so powerful to me.. just mind boggling....
Then another scenario is brought to mind. Going to the dentist.. or to the Dr. to get shots...You know that your child needs to go... and it is what is best for them.. So you have to take their hand and drag them into the dental seat. You know it is probably going to be painful for them .. but it is for their own good... I can see the kid digging their heels into the carpet and trying desperately not to have to go into the painful dentist appointment.
Is that not what we do to God? Do we dig our heels into the carpet and say No! I don't want to go!!
I know I do...
No! I don't want to share your word with that person, they may be mean to me... No! I don't want to sacrifice my time to you in the mornings... I need my Sleep.. No! I don't want to .. I don't want to .. I don't want to!!!!!
And time after time.... God is patient.. he waits for us to finish our little tantrum... (however many times it takes) and guides us in the right direction.
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.
These verses from Joel 2 tell us the attributes of God.. He is gracious.. compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
So I have to ask myself... Do I have these attributes? Specifically with my kiddo's at school... even more specifically will I have them with my future children... (whenever I may get them) So for now i'll talk about my kids at school....
Am I gracious to them? Do I show them abounding Love?? I try to.....
And now the BIG Question... Am I slow to Anger...... Ha!! Umm... No.. But I want to be.
We are supposed to model ourselves after Christ.. so... as hard as it will be for me... I need to become slow to anger... I need to have more patience with my students... God does it for me... Boy does he ever have patience with me...
So my goal for myself.... to be a more Christ-like teacher... to show love to my students... and to be slow to anger...
Yes.. I can do it :)
