Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5, NIV

Even a child is known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11, ESV

Joey had the best smile. Not only that, he had the sweetest disposition and easily became a favorite of his teachers. Joey lived with juvenile diabetes and had to live his young life far differently than his classmates. I often greeted him as he walked by my classroom door in the morning and in the afternoon on his way to the nurse’s office. A few times, when I visited his classroom, Joey sat eating a snack, and the other children politely told me that he needed this food they weren’t entitled to have because of his diabetes. Joey certainly had a reputation for being compliant, polite, and cheerful despite his difficult circumstances.

As educators, there may be times when we have a great deal of difficulty maintaining a gentle or sweet spirit like Joey’s during our school day. Administrators often put too much paperwork in our way, parents can be demanding, and students can be rude and difficult. Yet God expects us to model His personality to those around us.

As we prepare to protest this difficult admonition, St. Paul reminds us that we have help! The next four words say it all. THE LORD IS NEAR. What a relief to know that we do not have to live this way on our own. God is near in the person of His Holy Spirit and He waits to enable us. Therefore, when we pray, and then respond to difficult situations with a sweet spirit, we can be assured that He is behind it. And HE will be evident to all! And isn’t that the reason for our presence in our school?

Lord, let us be a light and a blessing in our schools and be gentle with all. Thank You. Amen.

Copyright Shirley Wilson.

Shirley is a retired Christian Educators member and former board member of Christian Educators.