Biting my Tongue

James 3: 1 "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."

Whoa-press the pause button. The pause button on life for just one moment. How convicting is this verse? Yes, Pastor Davey defined teachers as those who teach the word and biblical truths, but as he ran through the list: Sunday school teachers, pastors, etc...I couldn't help but be convicted with how influential our roles are as teachers. Yes, public school teachers. The performance review my principal provides this year will not hold a candle to His performance review. Now I know that I don't explicitly teach the word as I do in Sunday School to my fourth graders. But I certainly model it. I share it through my actions, tone, facial expressions, speech, and thoughts while on the ol' job clock.

I kept thinking about Katie Nam. Bless her heart, while she is a space cadet most of the time, I need to remember her heart. I had a conference with her Mom last week who informed me that Katie was having a hard time handling her groupmates. She doesn't have temper tantrums as another of my children have, but I could see how teasing and playfulness that goes back and forth between her groupmates could be frustrating for Katie. Apparently she bottles it up inside and bursts into tears when she gets home. Mom asked her if she tells me at all, but she says "Miss Kenyon says she doesn't care..."

EE!! The thing is, I have said that before. She is right! I have said those exact words in an effort to brush off what I consider trivial matters for what I deem more important (keeping the schedule, teaching the lesson, managing the whole group)...what have I done?! I have placed my agenda above her heart and feelings. I have ignored my duty as a Christian to shine the light in these little lives. I minimalized the importance of her feelings for matters of the world. I have forgotten that my definition of what is trivial and significant as an adult is not the same as a child's definition.

Pray that I can humble myself and govern my tongue. Pray that I can make decisions in my classroom not because of a focus on a pacing guide or a pending EOG, but rather, because of my focus on Heaven above.

Amen that Jesus eats with the sinners like me (Mt 9:9-13)...What joy I find in that Jesus says himself: "For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Side note on teaching the Aphids--- Moses hearing God speak from the burning bush is not an easy concept to explain to four year olds. Especially when I had just left a sermon on teaching the Word. I had to get it right, didn't want to teach it incorrectly!

They couldn't fathom how God was not in the bush. Bless their little hearts, they kept saying "I see Him in the picture...Look! There He is!" Me: "No, you can't see Him. He is there but shows Himself to Moses with His voice. " 4year old: "Yes, he is right there!" Me: "See God is in Heaven, but He is in the bush but only with His voice." 4 year old dead serious and astonished: "Wow, and that (heaven) is real high up there." Me: "Yes, it is amazing how far He could travel."

Have a fabulous week ladies!
KK