Be strong and
courageous for you will bring the Israelites [students] into the land I
promised them on oath and I myself will be with you. (Deuteronomy 31:23)
Rungs on the Career
Ladder
Take a good look at all of your new students. No matter
what colors, sizes, shapes, conditions, attitudes, aptitudes or behaviors you
see, know this: God sees the plans He has for them, not to harm them but to
bless and prosper them, to give each one a hope and future. Each one has a
promised land. Not only does God have awesome creative lesson plans for them in
your classroom this year, He has an awesome creative life plan for them as
well. You are a part of a divine plan in each child’s life! God has handpicked
and placed each student in your classroom! Wow! Your classroom is not an
assembly line created by men. Your classroom is unique. It will be custom
handcrafted by God himself if you let Him hold and fashion you in the palm of His
hand. (Isaiah 64:8)
God has chosen you to lift students up, to lead them to a
higher place for brief periods of time each day for a brief season in their
lives. Using the faith, wisdom, and knowledge you impart, they move farther
into their hope and future. You are a
rung on each child’s ladder to heaven. (Remember
that when you feel all “wrung” out or like you are being stepped on! God wants to
remind you that you are not the only rung on the ladder. Don’t be discouraged if
a child won’t climb your rung. God has a whole warehouse of rungs and He has
angels to help the children that are too frightened or wounded to climb.) As your students step and climb upon you
they will find a sure foothold, not because of who you are, but because of who
Christ is in you.
Some of your students’ peers, siblings, parents, and
media idols may be digging pits for them to fall into. Some students are already busily digging
their own pits. Some are dwelling deep
in these pits and tunneling, but you are the ladder. You are a part of the straight path, the
highway, the higher way of life, because you are letting Jesus lead you in your
classroom this year as never before. You are choosing to follow His teachings –
to forgive, return good with evil, go the extra mile, pray in your closet,
agree in prayer with other teachers, pray for those above you in authority,
continually thank and praise others, encourage always, correct in love, share
the fruit of the Spirit, etc…. Against
these things there is no law.
God handpicked Keith, a fifth grader, for Mrs. Carson to
serve. Keith was one of those students who was dwelling and actively tunneling
in the deep dark pits. He had severe behavior disorders and had been suspended
numerous times at his previous schools.
He was academically four grade levels behind all his peers in all his
subjects. Keith had given up on himself.
Previous staff members had given up on him as well. Staff members at Mrs.
Carson’s school began praying for Keith before and after school at their daily
and weekly campus Encouragement (share,
care and prayer) meetings. They asked God to lead them while working with
this young man. They didn’t know the way.
Mrs. Carson began returning good for the evil Keith
regularly shared with her. Mrs. Carson constantly encouraged, praised, and
thanked Keith. Mrs. Carson integrated Keith’s gifting, his love and talent in
sports, into his daily program. Firm boundaries and consequences were set. Mrs.
Carson was honest and spoke the truth to Keith and corrected him in love.
Keith’s physical need for sleep was fulfilled. Mrs. Carson worked with Keith
one-on-one for hours with custom teacher-made curriculums and programs. Five
staff members worked with Keith throughout the day. At year’s end Keith had built a trust
relationship with the staff and had come to understand educators are ladders,
not just more dirt throwers and pit diggers.
By the grace of God, Keith even passed his modified state mandated grade
level reading and math tests, the first time ever in his academic career. It was a miracle. Mrs. Carson and the
supporting staff brought Keith one step closer to his promised land.
May you and your fellow staff members be the rungs of
God’s ladder that help young people climb out of their dark pits, see the Son
shine, and get a vision of the hope and future God has planned for them
throughout the new year.
Prayer: God, we
apologize for throwing dirt into students’ pits in years past. We apologize for
murmuring and complaining when students, parents, and staff have stepped on us.
Thank you for making us rungs on your career ladder. Grant us more faith,
wisdom, and knowledge so we can withstand more weight and help more students.
Application: You know the teaching of Jesus. JUST DO IT.
Sharing: What was the
most challenging student you ever taught who you helped out of a pit? Explain.
CLASSROOM
LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE!
(For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.)
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