Lessons From Littles: How to Grow Gratitude
Meeting the littles
I parked in the parking lot, and sat there looking at the school, my heart pounding. What am I doing at this Christian school? I had only taught Sunday school. In fact, I was twelve when I taught my first class, so I was confident in church settings and informal environments. My husband and I worked as senior pastor couple in churches after his ordination and I wasn’t frightened, but now I sat in my car terrified.
I had been hired as a teacher of three and four-year olds. I breathed heavily and prayed, “Calm my heart, Lord!” My gratitude for the job was on shaky ground. My breathing slowed as I calmed down and prayed, again, “Here’s my heart, Lord. Work through me.” I repented of my fear, got out of the car, and walked into the school. I prayed out loud as I entered, “Lord, I will follow You.” My gratitude soared.
I had taken a tour of the small school during my interview, but now it looked different. Teachers and students moved down the halls in lines as I went to the office to sign employment documents. The former teacher was there to train me, and I worried about all I had to learn in less than a week. “I am yours, Lord,” I prayed. My gratitude smiled.
I entered the classroom and for the afternoon I followed the class everywhere. I took notes of the school layout. I asked questions and was surprised by the lack of specifics. I questioned how to write their lessons, when does the school year begin, what about the required student outcomes, classroom decoration and set-up—things I believed I should know. The teacher declined to share details.
I left four hours later believing I hadn’t learned anything about the process of teaching there. Ingratitude for the job took a foot-hold. Tomorrow will be better and more training will help. I tried to pray but the lack of training and kindness consumed and peeved me. I didn’t sleep much that night. Ingratitude insulted my dreams.
I needed my Shepherd
Day two, I arrived thirty minutes early and sat in my car praying for God to forgive my anger and ingratitude. I walked to the classroom and they said the teacher called off. I assumed someone else would help me but I was wrong. There was nothing written down, no schedule for the class, so I had to wing it. Fortunately, the well-behaved students seemed to know their main summer schedule, but didn’t know activities times. My face flushed with anger and fear overwhelmed me. Ingratitude engulfed me.
I asked another teacher for the daily Scripture and story. I read the Bible verse, told the story, and drew a picture of it on the whiteboard. I asked students, three at a time, to draw a picture of the story in small squares on the board and they were so excited! They did not draw well, so I asked them to talk about their pictures. They bubbled with excitement and described them to the class. At the end of Bible time a boy, Ricky, came up to me, hugged me, and put one hand on each side of my face and said, “Teacher, this is the best day of my whole life,” and kissed my cheek.
As one of God’s sheep, I had sneaked away to wallow in anger, fear, and ingratitude the night before. The other teacher didn’t show kindness, but God showed kindness through the students. I needed my Shepherd. He forgave me, and filled me with gratitude.
The Holy Spirit enveloped me. I became calm and could still feel the little hands on my face, the kiss on my cheek, and heard the words, “This is the best day of my whole life!” I stood up with folded hands, looked up, and began to praise and thank Jesus out-loud. I said, “Amen,” and all of the students echoed me. I opened my eyes and the students, with folded hands, were looking Heavenward. I was grateful to God who spoke so clearly and I repented of my anger, fear, shame and cried. Gratitude lifted me.
Lessons from my littles
A phone rang. I froze and looked at the students who enjoyed my surprise. They laughed hysterically and pointed to a wall phone I hadn’t seen. I asked in my silly voice, “Could this be God calling?” I picked it up and a voice snapped, “Where are you? Lunch was thirty minutes ago!” All I could say was, “Sorry, I don’t know the schedule. We’ll be right there. Where is the cafeteria?” She said, “Downstairs.” I looked at the students I had fallen in love with and answered, “My students will guide me.”
Right then, I formed a new class exercise—the group hug. This became a daily event, our story of gratitude for God and each other. The remaining days, the former teacher called-off, but no worries because Jesus was there. The proof of love and gratitude!
If we live daily in Christ, we show love and gratitude. Ricky and his classmates taught me this. Gratitude grows in the Father’s love.
Now, I’m retired and I look back on that day when I learned unscheduled love and gratitude. You never know who will teach God-lessons! Listen, love, and learn His lessons. Put them in your heart-pocket, and share freely, then gratitude will prevail.
Meet Tammy Royer
Tammy Royer has a Bachelor Degree in Autism and Psychology from Ball State University, is currently working on a Graduate degree in education, reading and literacy at Ball State University. Tammy is a member of Hope*Writers. Her interests include reading and writing personal life stories, Bible studies, poetry, researching gardening and art, children’s literature, and Dachshunds. She enjoys telling made-up stories with good morals to children. She has recently learned oil and water-color painting. Tammy lives in her childhood home in Indiana, has been happily married to her high-school sweetheart, Dan, for forty-five years. She is the mother of two adult children, has six grandchildren, and four grandogs.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
Creating Ripples
If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
