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Listen while you read: "Give Of Your Best To The Master"1 (Lyrics) |
"Would you be available to sub today?" It was a text message early one morning recently from the principal of the school where I used to teach. I arrived at the school to find that my assignment included three different grade levels — 6/7, 8/9, and 10 — for both English and Social Studies. Gulp. Managing teenagers was a bit out of my comfort zone. In the first class period, nine big, grade-ten boys entered the room noisily and fitted themselves into their seats. I tried to make sense of the lesson plan. A teacher's aide appeared at my elbow. She was used to the dynamics of the class, and soon, she had three boys reading aloud parts in the Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. Next class: English 8/9. Another teacher's aide offered to set up the laptop to project a film onto the whiteboard for the students' short story study that day. The 6/7 class was calm, and the students got down to work reasonably quickly with their assignment. Still, it was nice to have yet another teacher's aide checking in on me off and on. She knew the students and often helped them with their work, so she knew whether certain behaviours were acceptable or not.
After school, I asked the principal, "Are you sure you want me to come back tomorrow? It seemed as though the teacher's aides did most of the work today."
"That's what they're here for, to help you out. It stands to reason that they know the daily routine, and more about the subjects than you do, since they're here with the teachers every day," he encouraged.
That day, I had new insight into my role as a substitute teacher. Teachers, substitute teachers, and teacher's aides all had the same goal: the smooth functioning of the school day. Humbly, I had to accept that I couldn't do or know everything.
Just as the teaching staff in the school is a collective working together, so is the body of Christ. The apostle Paul likens it to a physical body:
1 Corinthians 12:18-21 – But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." (NLT)
We do need each other. That day, the teacher's aides helped me, but the previous day, I had been helping teachers with their various tasks, wherever there was a need.
Galatians 6:2 – Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (NLT)
None of us can claim not to need help from others. Let's humbly receive help, as well as helping others, sharing their burden when the opportunity arises.
Prayer: Lord, help us to receive help humbly from others, and not to think that we have to do everything alone. Likewise, help us to be sensitive to the needs of others, and to step in to care for their needs as well. Amen.
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Amen Alice.
Well said Alice. Thank you.
A great analogy and reminder. Alice.
Each of us has gifts, talents, we can use to help others.
Great perspective and analogy to the body of Christ, Alice! Thanks and blessings!
Thank you, Alice, for your beautiful and inspiring devotionals. You are so appreciated.
Thank you for this truth. We need each whether teaching a class or helping a sister through a struggle! Written very well!
Thanks, Alice, for another of your special devotionals. Our Lord is sure ever ready to help us when we reach out to Him and we need be ready to help others in need too. Blessings for writing.
God morning Alice
Good for you coming in and facing that challenge of teaching those grades! What a blessing when God puts people on our paths that we can help and ones that can help us.
Have a great day.
Blessings.
Thank you, Alice. I taught 7th grade for years, so I can identify with your story. One time, when I was subbing, I was assigned to the well-known most troublesome class in the school: kindergartners. And their aides were both absent that day! Somehow, we survived, but it was rough. So, yes, helping others is essential!
Oh Alice, how I had flashbacks to my days as a substitute teacher as I read your devotional. I was often supplying in a special needs class and very much appreciated the expertise of the Educational Assistants! We all really did have a role and one definitely was not more important than the other. Teamwork really worked!
Thanks for sharing.
Good morning, Alice,
I really like your title and your example of teamwork. I appreciate how you tied it into the many parts that the church needs, and God has a purpose for each of us to fulfill.
I just heard a radio program which was talking about the “loneliness” that many people are feeling, and that the pandemic has made it worse. Once people got out of the habit of going to social programs that are available it seems that it is harder to get motivated to step out the door. I have found that I am very content to be in my own space and they said even for introverts like me it is not good for our mental faculties to not have some social aspects in our lives. I believe some churches have noticed this also.
Thanks for the reminder that we all need to fulfill our role, which includes being part of a team. Blessings.
Alice, how interesting. I also was a substitute teacher for about three years pre-COVID. As I am a transplant patient, I chose not to return to the school post pandemic. Risk is just too high.
Funny how we think. I was intimidated by the Teacher’s Aides. First of all, I thought they were there for the needs of particular students. Also, because I had not taught children before, I felt like the Aides were spying on me and reporting back to the Principal, which turned out to not be the case at all.
Your message certainly resonated with me.
Blessings.