As my two years of Teach For America come to a close, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve left my students with-the science I’ve taught them, the life lessons I’ve taught them, and whether I was a living example of God’s love for them. I grapple with whether or not I’ve truly put some of them on a different life path.
I’ve only begun thinking about what I’ve learned from my students and how God has used them to draw me close to Him. God’s love exudes from so many of my children. There are moments that I am confident will stick with me forever as a reminder of God’s goodness and the beauty that comes with living with unrestrained faith.
There is the memory of one of my students taking off her jacket in the rain and holding it over my head in the rain so I wouldn’t get wet, despite the fact that this act was getting her soaked. Another is when two of my girls asked if they could come up during lunch to clean the pencil marks off of my tables. One of my favorite moments, though, occurred just a couple weeks ago as I took students from our pre-collegiate after school club to Six Flags.
One of my smartest, kindest, most thoughtful students was in the group I was chaperoning. She was hesitant to get on the fast rides and had never been on a roller coaster before. Several times she decided to stay back while the other kids went on. As we were standing waiting to get on “The Boss” I saw her confidence rise as she stated that she was going to go on this one. And with that decision she stuck out her hands, grabbed the hands of two other girls and said “I think we should pray.” We formed a small circle and she began praying aloud asking for God’s protection, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. As though God were standing right there with us, listening to her concerns, ready to offer her the protection she unabashedly asked for.
Isn’t this how it should always be?
What would it be like if I had no hesitation in praying aloud, praying for others, when I felt God’s nudging to do so? What could God-what will God-do through me when I open myself up to sharing my faith with others in any situation He presents?
I so look forward to becoming more like a little child in my relationship with God as I enter this next phase. Though an uncomfortable process, I know this race will break fears and self-consciousness I have about sharing my faith with others. Unashamed, unafraid to approach God, I hope to come to a point where there is no hesitation to share my faith or to pray for the needs others with complete trust that God will use me as He so desires.
