Listening

I was slightly embarrassed when my daughter pulled a small rectangular prism of a package out of the Christmas decorations tub. It was a gift for a friend from last Christmas! Oh, brother. I've been working on my organizational skills these past five years of teaching so the unopened gift wasn't a welcome sight. In order to redeem myself I tossed the package into my large, red bag as I was getting ready to go to church this morning. I envisioned my friend and I having a good laugh over the belated gift and wondered what the sign said. I remembered that whatever was written on it seemed very appropriate for the season of life my friend was experiencing a year ago. I wondered if she would still find it appropriate or if she had moved beyond what those words meant when I chose it a year ago. I didn't see my friend. I stayed after the worship service and prayed not thinking about the sign or my friend. Suddenly I decided to open the gift. I saw, "the Lord is compassionate" from the book of John chapter 11 and verse 35. I know it is always meaningful to be reminded of one of the character traits of the God of the Universe, but just two days after the tragedy of the Connecticut school shooting, it holds even more meaning. It reminds me of the tender and loving heart of Father God. It reminds me of who I want to be towards my school kids, my class (not to mention my husband and family). It reminds me to take my eyes off the ugliness of the events of the end of this week, though not to forget that there's evil in the world that robs our children of their innocence and, sometimes, their lives. I will continue to pray for our children, country, leaders, and churches. And this week I will focus on the compassion and grace of Jesus Christ. I really don't even want to write about the recent events; however, I am grateful to be reminded of how precious my students are and how blessed I am to be employed as a teacher. My heart expands with God's love for these kids. I know this is just a sliver of what the Lord feels toward my students and their families. I think I'll keep the bluish-gray inexpensive chunk of wood of a sign. I have a feeling the Lord already let my friend know over and over how compassionate His heart is and was towards her. He is faithful like that.