“Trusting that you’ll make something beautiful out of me.”
I slowly open my eyes, and I notice that I have dazed off for a second. I’m currently sitting at a long white table surrounded by chairs that were just filled with a rambunctious group of 14-16 year old students. I was attempting to teach them mathematics for the exam that they have to take in a few minutes. I stare through the large window and smile while observing all the students who currently are in the classroom separating seats, and claiming a spot as their own. I persistently watch them, intrigued by their every movement. As they laugh, as they smile, as they fight over seats, as they hit one another, as they sleep; they are just being your typical student. No big deal right?
This month I have spent a lot of time working with the students on the fifth floor in lower secondary (freshmans/sophomores in high school) at Dignity for Children, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This bunch of rowdy and loud students are not a teachers fantasy. In actuality they are the majority of teachers worst nightmares. They are not angelic, they are not always polite, they are not docile, they are not considerate. What these kids are is: guarded, hilarious, lively, active, argumentative, moody, aggressive, assertive, leaders, and inventive.
I’m not here to brag about students and they’re great behavior, neither do I want to nag about teachers. I want to share my concern that so many of us forget.
These students are my (our) brothers and sisters; for better or for worse.
Yes they aren’t perfect, yes they can get on your last nerve, yes they are needy and attention seekers, but we are no different than them. Just like so many of us, these students have stories and pasts of horror. The haven’t had the easiest lives and we expect them to be constantly happy and overjoyed, but at home “little Johnny” is being beat by his parents. Or perhaps “lil Cindy” has come to the country for refuge only to be sexually abused by their neighbor. These students haven’t figured out how to deal with the unexpectancy of their lives, and it tends to come off in a negative behavior. In the end,they are still children of God, and deserve the chance to flourish, the chance to fly, the chance to soar, and the chance to be what the Lord has destined them to be.
There are no “bad students,” just like there are no bad people. Lets move away from that negative mindset and placing labels on someone who the Lord didn’t place that label on.
I could most definitely spend forever speaking on this topic, because it’s something that the Lord has birthed in me and given me a passion for. However, I will just say this.
I CHALLENGE YOU!! Yes you who are reading this struggling with who the Lord has called you to be. The one who is believing the lies that others or the enemy are feeding you. You who thinks that you aren’t enough. You who believe that you aren’t pretty enough. You believe that you aren’t skinny enough. Guess what???
You are ENOUGH.
You are LOVED.
You are BEAUTIFUL/HANDSOME just the way you are.
You are WORTH IT.
You are PERFECT in His Eyes.
You are His Beloved.
You are a Son or Daughter of the one true King!
There isn’t time to sit and wallow in what you aren’t or what others think you should be. Declare this over yourself today!
“I am who I am because He says that I am.”
Break the chains of the labels that have been placed on you and walk in Freedom.
B 🙂
