My second year of teaching could be described in one word as…challenging.
I had a cluster of students that contained numerous retentions, and most struggled in school.
One day, after dropping my students off at Fine Arts, I ran into a third grade student who was in the hallway. This child stood out because he had attempted to tie a piece of cloth on his head to mimic a doo rag.
My patience had been stretched that morning, beyond its capacity. When I saw the child, I was quick to reprimand him and told him to remove the doo rag. After all, he should know better. Students were not allowed to wear hats to school.
The student respectfully obeyed, and after it was removed, I noticed his hair.
It looked like he had gotten into a fight with the hair clippers, because there were patches of hair missing all over the back of his head.
I felt about 2 inches too small.
Apparently his mother had written a note to the homeroom teacher asking permission for him to be excused from wearing the head covering. She thought it would be less humiliating to cover up the hair than to let it be exposed.
Let's be real, kids can be cruel.
I made a faulty assumption. You know the saying, "What happens when you assume? You make an…"
I assumed this young boy was fooling around, trying to break the rules.
By assuming this, it effected my thoughts, my actions, and my words.
Today, as I was spending my time with the Lord, I was looking at other women long ago who made faulty assumptions.
Take Martha, sister of Lazarus, for example.
When Jesus showed up a little to late, she said to him, "If you would have come earlier, my brother wouldn't have died." (John 11:21)
Hmmmm…maybe. But maybe not.
Lazarus still could have died if Jesus was there, but Martha was betting on Jesus healing him.
Martha's faulty assumption didn't stop there. It led to other thoughts.
If Jesus really cared for Lazarus and our family, he would have come sooner. He would have come as soon as we notified Him.
Why is Jesus being so uncompassionate?
Doesn't Jesus remember how well I served Him that day? The least He could have done in return is come to heal Lazarus.
Jesus was just on time, cared deeply, wept along with the family, and had a better plan to bring Him glory. A plan that went beyond Martha's imagination.
From death to life.
Today, the Lord showed me I was making a faulty assumption too.
"God, if you would have told me sooner the plans you have next for Derek and I, then I could have applied for jobs sooner in this area."
"God, If you would have guaranteed a job for me by now, then I wouldn't be so stressed or rushed."
Guess what He said?
Christina, I am not bound by your time frame.
This is an opportunity for you to trust and rely on Me, not yourself.
I can be given much glory when I do things My way, not yours.
