When I began student teaching in the fall of 2007, I set out mentally for a semester filled with my own learning and formation as an educator. I was prepared to stretch myself by creating varied lesson plan formats, applying strategies to increase literacy and phonemic awareness, and accommodating all learning styles in what I envisioned to be my (perfect) classroom. It was going to be a great experience for me, and vicariously, for my students.
I put on my teachery-est outfit and shoes and arrived 15 minutes early, latte in hand, to meet with my cooperating teacher for a prep day the day before the school year would start. The plan was to prepare the classroom for the year by labeling a desk, cubby, supply drawer, and coat hook for each student.
My cooperating teacher handed me the class list. The very first name on the list was Jesus. At first, I giggled to myself. I had never met anyone named Jesus (pronounced ‘Hey-zeus’) and it certainly took me by surprise to see it on the top of my class roster.
I wrote out a label for his desk, Jesus’ desk in my classroom.
I labeled Jesus’ cubby.
I assigned Jesus a spot on the rug for group time.
Suddenly I realized that this semester would be, by no means, about me.
I would be teaching Jesus to read. It would be my responsibility to help Jesus love to learn. When he walked into my classroom every morning, I would make Jesus feel safe, welcome, and loved.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men… for you serve the Lord Christ.” -Colossians 3:23-24
An amazing change of perspective happened in my heart that morning, and it only became more profound as the first week of school went on.
It just so happened that Jesus’ family couldn’t afford most of the items on the school supply list. On the first day of school, while the rest of the students were excitedly unloading brand new crayola boxes and fresh spiral notebooks from brightly colored backpacks, Jesus sat quietly at his desk.
Jesus sat at his desk in my classroom.
That night, I scoured the aisles of Target for pocket folders, colored pencils, and size 2 gym shoes.
For Jesus.
My student teaching was not about improving my teaching ability or honing in on best practice, it was about meeting Jesus’ (and Bethany’s, and Mia’s, and Jayden’s…) needs. Sometimes, Jesus needed a hug in the morning as he came into my room. Sometimes he needed an extra push and encouragement with reading. Sometimes he, very literally, needed shoes.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” -Matthew 25:34-36
Every student in my classroom became Christ to me, to serve for their sake, not my own. I pictured My Savior being able to say to me at the end of the term: “I couldn’t read and you taught me, I struggled with self-image and you gave me confidence, I was falling behind and you differentiated for me, I had no voice and you advocated for me.”
Now that I am not in the classroom, and I have no literal Jesus walking through my door every morning, I am working to see my son as the Jesus whom I serve. Laying on the floor all day with a pre-crawling infant, it is easy for me to see what I do as tedium.
But this is my work!
This is what I will do heartily, as unto the Lord, seeing in my son’s face the very face of Jesus.
awesome, beautiful post, Allison!! i think i will love it even more, the more I ponder it. inside is a resounding, Yes!
That is SO beautiful,Allison!! Thanks for sharing it! I’m an early childhood education major,
and reading this today has been such an encouragement to me! : )
♥
Nice post. I loved it. Just goes to show what ever we do we should do it with our whole hearts.
favorite post yet :]
As a teacher who just went back after 14 weeks of maternity leave (sad week!) I loved this post. Thanks for the reminder of why I do what I do…for my first graders and my 3 month old!
Perfect to read at the beginning of my school day. Thanks, friend.
I love this post. Beautiful.
Can I just say I miss teaching with you next door? Also, thanks for the perfect reminder. Sometimes I’m blown away/overwhelmed by the needs of my students, then I remember that’s why God put them in my class.
What a beautiful baby in that picture! I feel that way too. I am serving what I love most in this world and I love doing it!
So beautiful, I’m a new follower of you blog, and I’m really happy I found it!
absolutely beautiful.
I’ve been following your blog for awhile, but this was such a beautiful post I had to reply. As a current educator, with a Jesus in my class, I’m reminded every day that even though the Lord hasn’t blessed me with children of my own (yet!) I can still impress upon them the Greatness that He is. :)
That was so beautiful to read. I was tearing up. And well, sweet Obaby is just such a beautiful example of HIS handiwork.
Beautiful. I love Perspective. I assure yout it makes you a better parent than most.
That is lovely, Allison. Dang it I just came on here to look up your homemade baby legs post and you spring that on me… I wasn’t ready for that! Also, pretty sure that pic made my ovaries yell “Have another baby and order a boy this time!” before I could get them sedated again.
hey allison….i know it’s been a long time, but I have been stalking you through your blog since Wheaton. I love reading them! You have a gift that’s for sure! This post was a wonderful reminder of why we went into the educational field…and it comes at just the right time! Thank you for sharing.
lovely, lovely post. made me take a step back and look at my daily tasks with a new light. i’ve read your blog religiously, but something about this post touched me like no other one had yet, so I had to comment and let you know my thoughts :) Thank you!
What an awesome post! It brought me back to when I used to teach 3rd grade in an inner city school. Most of my students could be described how you describe Jesus. Sometimes all they needed was a little hug, or a boost of confidence. But there were also many times when they needed shoes, or gloves, or lunch money. I’ve been a SAHM for 4 years now, and I’d be kidding myself if I said I didn’t miss teaching. Thanks for bringing back the memory!
Wow. I am blown away by this. Just amazing. Everyone need to read this and remember what its all about!
This is beautiful and so true. Thanks for these reminders. Just retweeted on twitter!
This is an amazing post and such a meaningful experience for you. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Love this! Thank you for sharing! God bless – Holly
Love this post!
What a great reminder. I have 25 days left (who’s counting?) before I am finished with my teaching career after 6 years. I have been working hard to delight in these last days and not just be focused on being finished teaching. This was the reminder that I needed. . .
Thanks for the reminder, Allison. I needed it. Being a stay-at-home is the best but oh man, sometimes it is so draining doing the same thing day after day. But as you said in this post, I am serving Jesus and that should make me want to do ANYTHING even the very tedious things. As I am watching and taking care of my Ruth may I see the face of Jesus too!
Love this, as a former teacher and a current mom!
That, my friend, is what being a teacher is all about. You.Are.Awesome.
Loved your scripture references too!
Beautiful! Each and every Christmas I catch myself holding my children and wondering what Mary herself thought as she held her newborn babe. I remind myself that the work I am doing is Holy and that I have an obligation to my Lord to raise them with him. This posts was beautiful. It reminds me to see Christ in them daily and not just at Christmas when “Mary Did you Know?” is playing softly in the background. Thank you.
this was a wonderful post! and that is one beautiful baby!
This is beautiful. I am a 2nd grade teacher. I have taught for 17 years and have seen lots of conflict, even among teachers. I have said to my principal that the reason I don’t get caught up in the problems is because I don’t work for other teachers, the parents or her (the principal), I work for the Lord and answer to Him. You put all of that into words so eloquently. Thank you.
What a great post! That is exactly how I feel about being a mom.
That picture of your little man is just beautiful!
Exactly how is it that you can fly across the country and crawl right into my heart and put exactly what I’m going through into beautiful words????
I really miss my “kids” too, then I was listening to my friend’s song called Plans….it’s based on Jermiah 29:11. (http://www.spiritandsong.com/ykig) She sings that His plans are simple and amazing. Which describes motherhood perfectly :)
i love this post, Allison! thanks for the important reminder.
That is such a precious face! I can’t not smile when I look at it, it’s just so cute!
This was the most beautiful post, Allison. I just loved it.