Mr. George
feb, 19, 2020
Well, say it isn’t so but my heart has been stolen again. The culprit? A little honey named George. He was in the kindergarten class that Kenni and I were helping in this morning. There was an empty spot next to him at the table I found myself in front of. I sat down and Mr. George has a cute little grin. He was very shy, well, at first anyways. After we finished tracing our letter B’s page, we started “numba two”. He stole my heart with his cuteness and before I knew it, he was teaching me, and I didn’t even realize it.
Mr. George was a gabber but quietly to himself. He liked to pronounce all the letters and words and numbers correctly. He often got distracted by his classmates who would finish before him and then get discouraged when he hadn’t finished as quickly as they had. After a couple worksheets I picked up on this pattern and just sat with him. I would sit and watch him slowly trace the dotted letters, making sure they were exactly as they were supposed to be. If he was off, he had to erase and try again. When he would get discouraged he would ask for help, and so I’d kneel down, one arm around him and the other aligned with his writing hand; i’d hold his hand and we’d trace the letters together. When I would leave to go help the others he would work a little bit but need more encouragement; he really liked the one-on-one. So, i’d make a round of the table and come back, kneeling beside him with my arm around him and tell him good job, and we would recite the sound and name of the letter. Again and again we’d sit and trace then together. He was often the last to finish, but he was always proud and was happy to show me the completed work.
As I was thinking about Mr. George, I thought of how often I can be like him and how God is my teacher.
I can get distracted by all the moving pieces around and in front of me with all the noise that I lose focus on what I was doing or what I’m learning. In those times, I find that God is there to remind me, to encourage me and to bring me back to the truth of his word. The pace of what i’m doing won’t be the same as everyone else, and that’s not bad, it’s just the pace of my journey. I will finish when I’m supposed to, in the time God has already planned. The best part is that he is always beside me, arm around me, and we go in the pace he has for me, together. l get frustrated when I can’t get things “right” or they don’t look like my expectations or where I’m feeling they should be. Again, he knows and he is so gentle and kind and strong and good and I look up, I ask for help and he’s there; he is on my level, at my pace, and he puts one arm around me and the other holds my hand in his and he teaches me how to do it. Grace is the eraser and he gently and patiently says to me: it’s okay, let’s try again”. At the end of that season, after i’ve learned, we move on to the next thing. Again and again he reminds me. Again and again he is so patient to teach me. Again and again he is so full of grace and mercy. Again and again he reminds me that he is my my teacher, my friend, my life, my focus, and my heavenly father. He knows the pace, he knows me like a teacher knows — he knows us all and loves to love us and teach us. All he wants us for us, like Mr.George, to lift our heads, ask for help, and allow our hearts to be softened, to be reachable, and to let him guide our hands and our hearts with his steady and gentle hand. He’s quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. He is always wanting and able to help and rescue his kids. He loves to love us. He is good.
Mr. George, thanks for being my buddy today. You’re a good teacher.
