"Those Kids" Can Be Reached for Him

By Jackie Thomson
Can you remember your first grade teacher or your first day at school? Stop and consider what you remember and what caused that to stick with you. Was it fun, unusual, funny, sad, new, scary, exciting... what? As the years passed, what made an impression on you and which teachers made class something to look forward to and learning easy?

I remember my first teacher and our first day together. Some things just have a way of sticking with you, especially if you are one of “those kids” (and I was). You know the type, you’ve probably had one or two in your class. If not, just wait, you will.

The first day of school Mrs. Menkin put me in a desk toward the back of the class. Guess what. That was not where I wanted to be. So, I picked up my desk and moved it up next to hers. Then I sharpened my crayons in the pencil sharpener. Yes, you’re right — there were some intense moments of fellowship then, and when I got home the grapes of wrath were pressed out. I got the message pretty clear early on and 2nd through 4th grades went by fairly smooth. The fifth grade presented a challenge, especially science. I wonder if Mrs. Smith remembers me and the “discussions” we had. (After all a kid can take just so much, and she pushed the envelope a bit when she started telling us we came from a monkey.) Before the year was up, she was telling the class, “We all come from a monkey, that is except Jackie and her mother.” I can’t imagine why I just barely passed that class.

What kind of memories are we making when we step into the classroom? We’ve learned to use games, gadgets, gizmos, music, drama, and even snacks to make a lesson memorable and that’s good, so what more is there?

Claude Olney, author of Where There’s A Will There’s An A, How To Get Better Grades in College tells us, “Choose instructors over courses” and went on to say that poor instructors can ruin a good course and excellent instructors can make any course interesting and fun. Notice how important you are in the lives of your students. Your making an impression! Press on! Don’t give up, give in or give out.

There’s one tool available that will strengthen you and bring it all together. This tool should be used every time we stand before a class, regardless of the age level. It should be used so much it’s polished and shines from use. This tool is called the Holy Spirit, “the anointing.” We study, prepare games, have fun, serve snacks and transfer information from our head to theirs, but with the anointing there is something else that happens. The anointing does something with that information—it brings transformation into lives… transformed into His image and His likeness.

Live your lesson all week. Meditate on the Word and it will come alive in you. Like a good pot of soup, it takes time to cook and for the flavors to blend to be it’s best. Prepare all of the ingredients, add a little of this, some of that, season it just right, stir, turn on the heat and let it simmer until time to serve.

“Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water,” John 7:38.