Prayer: Lord, Thank You for being You. Please forgive me for acting out of anger and not showing love. Please help me to show love as much and to as many as I can. In Jesus’s name. Amen

Scripture: Love is patient, love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV; emphasis mine

By this time all of your students have finally settled in and gotten used to you. Everyone is in his or her comfort zone, but there may be a few sweethearts who try you from time to time. As planned, you have followed all the school’s behavior guidelines, but nothing seems to work. When this happens, remember who you are and Whose you are. Meditate on this scripture verse: “Love is patient, love is kind.”

Jesus knew Judas would betray him, but he didn’t treat him any differently. “Then one of the Twelve–the one called Judas Iscariot–went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Matthew 26: 14-16 NIV).

Remember, every child–regardless of how hard he or she may make it to do so–needs and deserves to be loved. So be patient. Remember, you are a child of God dealing with someone’s child. Be kind. Meditate on today’s verse.

Copyright Niccori Thomas-Brown. Email niccorithomas@gmail.com
If you’ve enjoyed this devotion, Niccori has more topics in her book, Doing All God Has Called You To Do: A Devotion For Novice Teachers. Available for purchase here.

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