Voices: God’s word applied to back to school

Back to school is a return to routine

For many of us, the start of a new school year means we can get back to our routines. Yes, we may have to buy new school clothes, but the kids are off to school again. We can work at home or away from the house knowing our children are in a structured learning environment with trained professionals for the next seven hours.

Back to school holds a different meaning for each of us, and as a former teacher, back to school has especially significant meaning for me. During my teacher preparation program, I was taught child development, lesson planning and professional/academic teaching standards to guide my work and career.

Back to school is a return to longsuffering

As I soaked in God’s word to me this week during our Wednesday Bible study and Sunday’s sermon, the concept of longsuffering loomed large. Reflecting on this time of year and the idea of longsuffering, I could see vividly how God encourages teachers with this particular fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

While the rest of us get back to our routine(s), teachers are about to enter a plethora of the unpredictable. Any given day, legislators and governing bodies can put forth new laws, district and school administrators can change the game plan, parents can selfishly expect too much from teachers, and students can come to school sick, hungry, angry and/or unprepared for learning.

Since teacher annual salaries can still average around $45,000, some teachers must negotiate updating their own child’s wardrobe amidst saving for a rainy day at the same time many of us will purchase new school clothes for our kids without too much agony.

While the rest of us leave for work prepared to use our training, teachers often use their heads, hearts and hands in ways for which they were not trained. Even so, they must perform. Their jobs are on the line. More importantly, more than 20 pairs of young eyes are focused on them daily.

How can teachers go the distance under such pressure?

Our guest preacher this Sunday, Rev. Michael Evans Jr., taught us how Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds us to keep pressing forward.

For Christian teachers, God sees you praying. He saw you anoint the classroom and pray for students prior to the start of school. He sees you doing your devotions. Keep pressing forward.

All teachers, Christian or not, are encouraged always to focus on the reward. Keep the prize of a job well done, an educated society and a transformed student life in sight. Being a teacher can get hard. Endure suffering, and still progress. Focus on the reward.

If we are to progress, first we must remember those who came before us. We must remember we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1).

Although teacher salaries are low, they have been lower. Former teachers had the same expectations of them: to educate students for a lot less money. Former teachers are our witnesses that it can be done.

Parents see your good work, also. Parents see the improvement in their child(ren). Oh, they may not say it, but parents are witnesses to your efforts.

Second, let some things go. Lay aside every weight and the sin which easily entangles us (Hebrews 12:1).

Weights for teachers can be uninformed legislators or ill-tempered administrators, co-workers or parents. If we are to progress and run this race, we must lay aside those things that would distract us from the prize, including things about ourselves, such as procrastination or lack of planning.

Finally, we are to run with endurance the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1). As a teacher, I found myself many times in competition with the next teacher. To run my race as a teacher, I must ensure I am running the right race. If I am attempting to run someone else’s race, it will only deter my progress in pressing forward.

As believers and as teachers, we are also called to longsuffering.

Minister of Missions Tamiko Jones taught us Wednesday evening how Paul tells us Christians are to put on our new clothes of mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness and, yes, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12).

Teachers are not only called to longsuffering, we are also called to “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Amid teacher accountability, high-stakes testing, school shootings, low teacher pay, amid all these things teachers are also called to peace. Praise God for the peace of Christ!

As teachers, we are to clothe ourselves in the above manner. Despite the frequently tough terrain, we as teachers must act, behave and respond in ways that show we are believers of the Most High God.

Teachers, my prayer for you this year and every year going forth is that you manifest the peace of Christ in the midst of longsuffering.

Lisa M. Rainey, Ph.D., is an experienced educator and a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas. She applied Sunday’s sermon by guest preacher Michael Evans Jr. and Wednesday’s word by minister of missions Tamiko Jones to issues of education.