Sometimes in our classrooms, we feel that we have so little to offer. Resources. Energy. Skills. Answers. Our students now come to us with more needs than we have ever had to face as classroom teachers. Students without basic needs being met. Students confused by a culture that sends significantly conflicting messages. Students facing tough questions they (and we) are often unable to answer.
What do we do? Put on a different hat and keep teaching. But how many hats can one teacher wear? When does that hat pile on the head of the teacher, coach, nurse, facilitator, cheerleader, scheduler and mentor lean to the side and topple over? How far can we go before we once again feel that we have so little to offer?
“Might” vs. “Mite”
I recently had the privilege of being part of an inner city church service. While preparing for our music set, an elderly homeless man quietly stepped to the front and dropped an offering in the plate near where we were standing. As he walked away, the significance of his offering struck me. In the plate, rested one copper penny- the widow’s mite.
“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.[a] 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings [b]for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” -Luke 21:1-4 (NKJV)
How can a mite be given so much “value”? Why would this sacrifice make headlines? Why would this offering be so significant? What makes the widow’s mite so powerful? How did I know that the penny offered in the plate had greater power than any additional funds that might make their way into the story?
These questions ran through my mind throughout the entire service in the church that night.
Not by “Might”
The reality of the “mite” is that God’s hand is not limited by the value we place on it. Human attempts to value our gifts and abilities is insignificant in the story of this widow. While the rich man had much to offer, he did not sacrifice. He gave in such a way that it was still comfortable. It was still something he could manage with our without the hand of God. The widow, however, gave all she had leaving her in a position that her future was then dependent on God.
What character are you trying to be in your classroom? Are you offering out of your abundance knowing that if you work hard enough, you will be able to be all that your students need? Or are you offering all you have knowing that God will have to lead your classroom story? He is not held back by our limitations. Our “might” does not determine His ability. God is looking for our sacrifice, our willingness, our offering.
In regards to our minuscule offerings in the classroom, God does what we are not able. He is what we are not. He is the provider for our students. He is the clarity in their confusion. He is the answer to their questions
Allow God to be what you are unable to be. Offer your best asking God to be the rest.
“…Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. ” -Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)
Teaching Beyond the Norm 