1 Thessalonians 5:11The Message (MSG)
9-11 God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
Proverbs 27:17The Message (MSG)
You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.
Ephesians 4:29New Life Version (NLV)
29 Watch your talk! No bad words should be coming from your mouth. Say what is good. Your words should help others grow as Christians.
This week marks the end of a 2 year chapter with a group of students. In August of 2015, I could see anxiousness, lack of confidence in themselves, fear of failing, and some needing community. These feelings are not feelings that can be measured on a test. There is no data that can drive my instruction in these areas. However, I take it upon myself to make these areas a priority. I roll my sleeves up and begin working on their hearts. Why? Because without confidence, the feeling of being at ease, and/or knowing that they are accepted for who they are, life is going to be more challenging.
Yesterday, I handed out a piece of paper with each students’ name. (Thank you to the dear friend who gave this activity to me.) Their peers where to write one word to describe that person. It was neat to see how they view one another. “Teacher”, “friend”, “cool”, and “beautiful” were a few of the words. But then came words like “epic”, “gifted artist”, “dedicated”, “hard working”, and so many more. These words where then taken and put into Wordle (as seen below). The larger words are the words that are mentioned the most when typed.
The students that walked into my classroom in 2015 are not the same students walking out of my room today. They have a confidence about themselves that looks different. They have built friendships and a community that will be remembered. No, it wasn’t, and isn’t, always pretty, but they have each developed a confidence within themselves. I know this because of the words that they put down for one another.
So as Christians, lets do what God intends us to do, build one another up not tear each other down. We need to walk around on a mission to make others feel welcomed, invited, confident, and loved. With each of us on that mission, those little words make a big difference in a defeated heart.
Be Blessed!
*This is the last Thoughtful Thursday until August. However, I will be sending one last message within the week of good reads I have for the summer. I have made it a goal to read 1 book a week altering between a few genres. I would like to share a few with you as well. *
