“Love is patient and kind. . . ” 1 Corinthians 13:4a ESV
Every once in a while I have that student. That student who takes a lot of my attention. That student who struggles academically but gets overwhelmed with making up work. That student who tries to manipulate me while coming across as super sweet. That student who drives me crazy and tries my patience.
And that student who makes my heart break because she was treated so terribly in her past that she has every right to not trust me.
That student who needs extra patience because she’s doing the best she can with the at-home support that she has.
That student who I’ve thought about since then, just wondering how she’s doing.
I had that student while teaching online during the fall of 2020. I met her through a computer screen and got to know her during classes and after-class online meetings.
I met her in person a few times once we returned to the building, and she’d let me know how she was doing.
And then I saw her yesterday. I was out picking up a few things (ok, it was a box of wheat thins and a bag of peanut M&M’s. I was getting shots later that night and needed my post-shot-please-don’t-let-me-faint snacks. Good news – they worked like a charm), when a young woman approached me with a smile on her face and asked if my last name was Russell. I recognized her at once, even though I didn’t remember her name right away. We spoke for a few minutes, reminiscing about our old school and what a tough time we had during online learning. She told me she recently had a memory pop up on her phone of a video recording she made for my class.
She’s now an adult with a job and a large, authentic smile. And she’s doing well.
And all I could think about was how actions have a lasting impact.
As a teacher, I sometimes lose sight of this. As a human, I lose sight of this all the time.
So here are a few reminders for all of us (especially me – middle school student behavior has reached a new peak of disruption, resulting in my exhaustion) of how to be. Notice how I chose “be” over “act”, because I want these to be part of my character as a reflection of my heart, not simply actions I take when I remember I’m supposed to be a nice person.
Be patient: “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV)
Be kind: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 ESV
Be gentle: “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11 ESV)
Because you never know who you’ll encounter, what they’ll need from you, and how you’ll be remembered. I don’t know about you, but I pray that I’m remembered as being patient, kind, and gentle, even as I’m a work in progress.
In what areas are you in extra need of these “heart reflections”?
“Love is patient and kind. . . ” 1 Corinthians 13:4a ESV
