Proud of You

Proud

Each year as summer gives way to autumn and school starts up again, I can’t help but feel a tinge of longing as I remember all the years I prepared my elementary school classroom for the students who would become my kids for the school year, along with the opportunity to tell them, “I’m proud of you.”

A new year always brought new challenges and new joys. My students carried their individualism, enthusiasm, desire to learn, or lack of with them into the classroom.

For some, my room was a safe place in a world that for them, wasn’t.

Regardless of what happened over the year we traveled together, when my students graduated from my classroom, they knew I was proud of them.

Chance Encounter

Through the years I taught, and also since I’ve retired, I often run into former students so seeing a former student as my husband and I unloaded our shopping cart onto the check-out counter one Saturday, wasn’t anything new.

However, I hadn’t seen the red-headed young man who stood behind the register next to ours since he was in 6th grade. A long time ago.

“That’s one of my former students,” I told my husband.

“Good or bad?”

“Bad. Good. Both. I need to talk with him.”

Curious to find out how Jack was doing, I stepped over to the end of his counter and waited for him to complete his customer’s transaction.

“Hi, Jack. I’m Mrs. Quandt. Your 3rd grade teacher.”

His eyes lit up with recognition. Then a shy smile slowly spread across his freckled face.

“Hi. I didn’t recognize you.”

“That’s okay. I recognized you. How you doing? You’ve graduated already, right?”

Not only had Jack graduated from high school, he was in college working toward a double bachelor’s degree.

“Excellent! I’m really proud of you.”

Again, he smiles.

The Beginning

Go back 12 years.

My students are at their desks, busy working on their social studies lesson. All was quiet, until it wasn’t.

Jack transferred to our school mid-year after his parents divorced.

His mother had several abusive live-ins while Jack was in my class. He had a really tough time adjusting.

One day, that I can only assume followed a particularly difficult night at home, Jack belligerently stood and knocked over his chair. Next, he threw his paper, pencil, and book to the floor. In a final outburst, he knocked over his desk while the students around him sat still as stones.

In a situation like this, most students would benefit from a visit to the principal’s office. But I knew sending Jack there would accomplish little. Instead, I told him to pick up his things, right his desk and chair, and come sit at the table next to my desk, to finish his work.

Jack did what I asked. However, rather than sit at the table next to me, he crawled under it.

“I hate you! You’re the meanest teacher I’ve ever had!”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” I picked up Jack’s work and handed it to him under the table. “You can finish your work under there.”

And he did.

Improvement

That was the last time Jack acted out or threw anything in my room.

And I’m happy to report, our relationship definitely improved.

Each morning from then on, Jack brought me a rock, feather, flower, even pecans that fell from the trees on campus. Anything he happened upon on his way to school.

He even educated me on what a sugar glider is and his reasons for wanting one as a pet.

Three years after Jack graduated from my class, I saw him during a ceremony at his middle school. He was a leader in the Junior ROTC program at the time.

I was so proud of him and made a special point of telling him so.

God Says I’m Proud of You

Seeing Jack has me thinking. Aren’t there times we throw things at God?

We yell at him.

Chafe against his discipline.

Tell God he isn’t doing things the correct way.

It’s during those times I believe God tells us he’s sorry we feel that way. Then he graciously lets us cool off under the table of his love and protection where he knows we’ll be safe.

After we’ve calmed down and we are ready to crawl out from under the table, guess what? God’s right there waiting for us with open arms.

God has a better plan for us than we could ever hope or imagine. He sees our potential and believes in us even when we don’t. God is aware of all the good things we’ll accomplish, even when we believe there are impossible.

The Creator who spoke the world into being knit us together in the secret place. He goes before us and prepares the way. Our job is to remember to follow His path.

Our success doesn’t surprise God. And you know what? We make him proud.

Your Turn

Have there been times when you chafed against God’s discipline and told him he wasn’t doing things right?

If so, as you pouted under the table of God’s love, did you sense that love embracing you until you were ready to crawl out?

Isn’t it wonderful that whenever we’re ready, God welcomes us back with open arms and says, “I’m proud of you.”

You can find another post about my teaching adventures here.

I wish you well.

Sandy

Photos courtesy Pixabay.