God never ceases to amaze me (I wonder if that statement makes him laugh)! In the midst of the chaos that was my classroom this morning, while preparing twenty-five fifth graders for a state mandated achievement test after we all had spent the night quivering in our separate darknesses while thunder boomed, lightning flashed, rain poured, and wind blew, God gave me a glimpse of His heart.
"Mrs. Joyner, will you pray for us before the test starts?" asks one young lad.
I stop. God, you are amazing. Thank You for letting me pray out loud in my classroom in front of my twenty-five students. This scene has been repeated--a student asking for prayer, out loud, in front of his/her classmates, and me responding the same--for the past six years.
"Would that be okay with everyone?" I ask. Without an answer, students stood and began to hold hands.
And I lifted up these precious children to You, and I asked for Your peace over them, that they would give their best on the test and in all that they do.
Ah, Father, thank You for this beautiful gift--the opportunity to speak Your words of life, of hope, of love over my students.
You have not been removed from the public schools, but we must take those chances to invite You in to our classrooms. When a child asks for You, for Your touch, I am so thankful to be conduit of Your grace. Year after year after year, You have been invited in by students--"Mrs. J, is God dead?", "What is your God made of?" from a Hindu student, "Will you pray for us?"--a teacher's dream! Yes, Lord, use me for Your kingdom. Extend my territory.
I will answer their questions because they ask, wanting truth. And, I will pray for them...every time.
Mrs. J,
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing teacher! (Among other amazing traits you radiate). Thank you for sharing that little piece of public school. While we teach our students the grade-level standards we also try our best to teach them a standard of living....one that is centered around Christ.
Thank you for going to the mission field in your classroom and school each day and year after year. Just think of the many lives you've touched and the seeds you've planted, truly extended His territory. Thank you for your bold example to your students!