Just when I think a particular class is beyond immediate help and the only thing I can do is wait for them to be more mature next year, they completely bless me! I used all the self-control I cold muster in my body this afternoon. I stopped to breathe and count to…actually I’m not sure when I stopped! By the time the vexing students left with their last set of livid instructions on behavior, I was thin-mouthed and inarticulate.
To be honest, I was nervous about my next class because they typically drain me of patience and energy, neither of which were available for disposal. To my immediate relief, each student in the in-coming class responded with a certain compassion to my state of mind. They were wonderful—even those who do not typically pick up on social clues were gracious to me today! Around mid-way through class, one boy conjured up the courage to speculate about the cause of my tension. He also pointed out that I had been squeezing the home-made stressball (which I popped later on and flour went all over the floor of my desk). He-he, oops! I’m a little sheepish about it all now.
I made sure my students knew just how appreciative I was for their good behavior. (Of course, they took the opportunity to ask for a party as a reward!)
With the day behind me now, and my pent-up adrenaline spent on aerobics and running, I marvel at the power we humans have on each other. No, we aren’t controlled by another’s actions or attitude, but we are certainly affected by them. Immediately, a two-fold challenge hit me: how can I let my reactions be controlled by the Holy Spirit rather than my emotions, and how can I make sure that I affect others to turn their day in a positive direction? They are both heavy loads to carry, but demonstrating Christ is not going to be easy!
Eph 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
