“Cleveland please sit down”
“NO” he replies.
My frustrations continue to increase. I feel hopeless. A few days pass and my patience wears thin and then God speaks to me.
“Love him Stefanie. Love this child as if he were your own. Show Him how much he is worth in my eyes. “
Cleveland was on the playground one morning and fell on his face into the pavement. He cried so hard and then he stood next to me. My reaction came as a shock. I started rubbing his back and speaking life into him.
“Cleveland you are such a good boy, Jesus wants you to know that. You do not need to put up an act little man, you need to be good and love people like Jesus loves you. You have so much potential little man. You are such a good boy Cleveland.”
Throughout the next few days I didn’t react to the bad behavior by screaming and correcting it but rather, noticing and encouraging the good behavior.
Dynamics changed.
“Hey class, look at what Cleveland just did. You should follow his example.”
This gave Cleveland an idea of what was expected and this changed everything.
The following week, I saw a boy willing to listen and his heart open to following. This also changed my heart as I saw how I should respond to people.
Our response triggers a reaction, which triggers a response.
LOVE IS THE KEY.
My mindset is forever changed by this simple mentality that all it takes is patience and love to really reach someone. Do not loose hope. Do not give up. Love with all you have and look at people with Jesus’ eyes.
This is the mindset that will change the world.
Simple words spoken but the reality of the outcome is so powerful.
