Perspective. That word seems to be reoccurring in my thoughts and speech for the past week. I’ve come to the conclusion (before I even journal any of my thoughts) that God is reminding me to put my “God Goggles” on and try to see things the way He does.
Follow me as I look back over the past week:
Last Wednesday I had a “come to Jesus” meeting with one of my class periods. I displayed their class average along with the district and my other classes. They discovered that they were the only class who scored below district on a specific assessment. The majority of the year I’ve tried to rack my brain around what to do with this class. I know their potential and have confidence in them. We brainstormed reasons why their scores are usually lower than the other class periods. All reasons were valid. Our perspective changed on how we need to focus in the classroom. We now (or at least trying) are entering the classroom, late in the day, with an attitude of “Let’s finish strong!” (Some of you educators may disagree with what we did, but I must say…one week later and I can tell a difference in their attitude and focus. Yipee!)
Last Friday, two of my dear friends took me to lunch and shopping for my birthday at this place called The Barn. This is the same place that my late mother-in-law and her group of friends used to go quite often to celebrate birthdays as well. I could have walked around thinking, with a somber expression, “Ah, Jany would have loved to have been here.” But instead God put His “God Goggles” on and allowed me to think, with a smile on my face, “Ah, Jany loved being here.”
This past Saturday I typed, “The tapping of one’s foot, bobbing of the head to the music, singing along with us, applause, and smiles on many of the elderly faces was priceless.” when I was describing the elderly at the nursing and assisted living homes when we visited. (see “Live a Life of Love”) I could have easily mentioned the smell of the places, the drool running down some of their faces, or the lady who kept saying profanity and screaming. (Hey, she’s 108 years old, what do you expect?) But, God allowed me to see the joy in their eyes and hearts. He, again, put His “God Goggles” on me.
On Sunday, I had a great conversation with a teenage girl. She mentioned to me how she has been praying for about two years about the opportunity of having a boyfriend. From her perspective, she really wants a companion of the opposite sex. She sees positive examples of others in their relationships and desires to have the same. I believe God put His “God Goggles” on me again and prompted me to say a few encouraging words to her and then say, “Maybe God wants you to desire for Him to be your man. When you focus on God first in your life, He will supply you with the desires of your heart.”
Then, over the past two days, it seems that the conversation my coworkers and I have often leave us feeling drained. Drained of the testing, data, doing what the nation/state/district are telling us to do, and time constraints. I am surrounded by exemplary educators who just want to teach. We all know that no matter what may be handed down to us, we need to “put on our ‘God Goggles’” and try to keep the focus on doing what is best for the students the main thing.
Perspective. Life throws us plenty of curve balls. We have the choice to swing, sometimes miss, and complain about a situation, or we can swing, sometimes miss, and say, “Wow! That was an interesting pitch” and move on. That “interesting pitch” could drive us to slump or to make us stronger and more determined.
How would God want us to see what is in front of us? We need to strive to not let anyone steal our joy and just put on our “God Goggles”.
I hope you knock that next curve ball out of the park.
Blessings and God’s abundant love to y’all.
