from the classroom

It was math class. The third grade boy was frustrated. He could not figure out his story problem. His teacher had explained it to him, and then told him he needed to figure out the rest of it on his own without any more help. That made him even more frustrated. He sat there... glaring at his math, getting madder and madder. Time went on. His teacher noticed that he was just sitting there, very upset. She decided to wait and see what would happen. He continued to sit, and glare. Between classes whenever it was time to work on more math, he would thump his book on his desk and give out a loud sigh, and continue to sit and glare. After about 50 minutes worth of sitting and glaring had passed, the teacher, noticing that he was now in tears,  finally had a moment to talk to the child and took him out of the classroom for a "discussion". The conversation went something like this.

               Teacher: Child, what is wrong? Why are you just sitting there?
               Student (crying): I can't figure it out, and you said you wouldn't help me.
               Teacher: But why are you just sitting there? Why don't you go on and work at the rest of your math lesson. Sometimes when we leave a problem and come back to it later we can think better and then we get it, just like that.
               Student: I don't know.... I didn't think about it.
               Teacher: How many times did you read over your story problem?
               Student: Once
               Teacher: Only once!!!!!!  You sat there for almost an hour and you only read it over one time!?!?
               Student (crying harder): Well I figured out how to do it, and I kept getting 13, and I know that's the wrong answer, so I just kept doing it over and over the same way, and I always got 13 as the answer. And I KNOW that's not right.
(At this the teacher almost busted out laughing for the correct answer was indeed 13.)
               Teacher: How do you know the answer is not 13?
               Student: I just know! I know it's wrong, but I kept doing it over and over and that's all I got, but I know it's wrong.
               Teacher: Instead of sitting there getting mad, what should you have done?
               Student: I should have just written down 13 and finished my math. But it would be wrong!!
                Teacher (again): Why do you think 13 is wrong?
               Student (looking up at the teacher with a very guilty look): Well.....  I looked at someone else's book and I saw he had 21, so I tried and tried to get 21 but I just couldn't.
               Teacher (now laughing out loud): Oh child, look into my eyes and listen very closely. The correct answer IS 13. The other student had the wrong answer.
             The student stopped crying and held his breath for a few moments before an ever so slight grin started to appear across his face. Followed was a discussion on not sitting idly doing nothing when you are stuck, and not trying to copy someone else's work.

The student may have learned his lesson. Later in the day, he pipes up and says, "That was really funny what I did earlier wasn't it."  Yes my dear boy, that was funny, but please don't ever do it again. And the teacher ponders this and thinks, Am I ever like that? Do I ever get frustrated because I try so hard to be something I shouldn't? Do I judge myself by a false copy? Does God ever feel frustrated because I am glaring and crying and asking for help when He has already clearly shown the correct answer to me?
Oh, forgive me, Lord.

sometimes it's the little things

I am a firm believer in looking for the little joys of life. 

*a child's laugh

*a falling star

*a mourning dove's song

*the brightness of the sun 

*the color red

*full moon rising 

*a shooting star
*a bright reflection
*a kind word
*a rare God ordained moment
*a coffee mug
* spring flowers
*the smell of fresh cut grass
*a jet stream

Whatever it is that grabs your attention and makes you say, "oh wow, look there, that's beautiful!" or "Did you hear that?" That something that takes your breath away, is given just to you by an all loving God who knows you. He knows every part of your heart, every longing you've ever had, every dream you've ever dreamed, every sigh that has ever escaped from your lips, every tear that has rolled down your checks, every smile that has brightened your eyes. He notices every emotion, and He cares deeply about each one. That God, he loves you for who you are. He loves you just the way you are. And the best part is, it doesn't matter what you do, He will always keep on loving you. He is pursuing you, and will do anything to get your attention. 

Those little things that take your breath away, God knows about them too. And He says, "Now if only my beloved child would know how much I love her. If she could only see that I am the one who painted the sunset. I am the one who put the mourning dove outside her window. I am the one that caused the right song to come on the radio at the perfect moment. I am the one who prompted the friend to write an encouraging note. If my child would notice that I am the Author and Instigator of these things, then maybe my child would also notice how much I long to have a relationship with her. I want to talk with her. I want to commune with her. I want to be with her every moment of her life. I want My Name to be in her mind and on her lips more than at bed time and on Sundays. So I will pursue her in order to win her heart.

"Every song you love, every memory you cherish, 

every moment that has moved you to holy tears 

has been given to you from the One who has been pursuing you 

from the first breath in order to win your heart. 

God's version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners 

comes in the form of sunsets and falling stars,

 moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; 

warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens, and fierce devotions." 

-Stasi Eldredge