just like the song goes: make new friends & keep the old

I grew up with an incredible group of friends.  There's no doubt that God strategically placed them in my life.  These girls were who I depended on, laughed with, and knew my secrets.  We spent the weekends together, served on mission trips, and unconditionally loved each other.  We had a strong foundation built on trust, Christ, and similar interests, with countless shared memories.  After graduating from high school, most of us went to different colleges where we began a quest to make new friends.

At Georgia College and after graduating, I quickly learned that all girls are not like my friends from home.  I can't remember ever fighting with the girls from Lilburn.  We never had a falling out.  We didn't have drama.  And although most of us still live near Atlanta, we don't see each other that often, so I need to make some new friends.  Not to replace the 'old' ones, but because you can never have too many friends, right?  And it's just time for that.

 Needless to say, finding good, genuine, Jesus-loving [new] friends proved to be rather tiring. . .which is exactly why I joined small groups.  [I'm doing a women's group and Byron and I are in a newly-married group!]  In a previous post I mentioned just how awkwardly it began, but I am more thankful than ever with the way they've turned out.

Yay for our new friends Adam and Alicyn!

After spending months praying for God to put me in a group, I am certain that He's handpicked these new friends for me.  We've only been meeting in our groups for about 6 weeks and I am already loving the people.  I am excited we are building our friendships with Christ as the foundation and making it a priority to meet each week.

It's neat to think that I've made so many new friends in the past 6 weeks and I already feel like we know each other so well.  I can't wait to see how the friendships evolve and relationships grow as we individually grow closer to God in the process.  

I know that God created us to be relational beings.  Sometimes, especially when you don't know many people where you're living, it's easier and more comfortable to continue to seclude yourself and veer away from and new community of friends.  There is no doubt, though, that with a little courage and God's placement of new people into our lives, great relationships happen.  I couldn't be more thankful.

God works in a public school

Most teachers will be honest and tell you that sometimes we get children in our classes that we wish we could trade.  They're disrespectful and distracting and their parents are unreachable.  They're the students that can change the whole dynamic of a classroom.  They're the children that, by the time the morning announcements come on, put you at your wit's end.  They're the hardest to love. 

Yet, they need your love the most.

Their parents are unreachable because they aren't involved...in or out of school.  The children misbehave because they don't know any other way to get attention -- and positive attention??  That exists?! They talk back and argue with you because they don't know any other way, and shy away when you ask for a hug because they're unfamiliar with affection.

Yet, they need your love the most.

So as a teacher you pray for patience and for God to speak through you because you may not always speak words of love.  Instead of groaning at the sight of them traipsing down the hallway in the morning, you great them with a smile.  Instead of getting angry when correcting that same student for the 500th time, you take a deep breath and repeat your instructions once more.  Instead of sending the child home in with crocodile tears streaming down his face because you've expressed how angry you are with him, you pull them aside, discuss how tomorrow will be better, and wave good-bye to a tear-free 6 year-old.  

And as you consciously love them, things begin to change.

Their pace quickens in the morning as they walk to your classroom and greet you with the most genuine, beautifully crooked-toothed smile you've ever seen.  Their excitement for learning grows and and they begin to follow directions.  Their behavior has improved and before they leave your classroom each day they stop to give you a big, sincere hug.

And as you consciously love them, things begin to change.

You realize that God placed this child in your classroom because that is exactly where He wanted him.  You realize that while this child may not experience any of Christ's love at home, he gets to experience it for 8 hours each day in your classroom.  You realize that even though you haven't spoken a single word about God, you've loved this child as God does.  You realize that this child has changed because of how you've loved him and because of what God's doing through you.

It's funny how sometimes it's the most unexpected students that grow into your heart and impact who you are.  They're the students you were so reluctant to love at first, but you can't seem to get out of your mind once they leave your classroom.  The students you specifically pray for each night.

I always thought it would be too difficult to work in a public school where I wasn't able to talk about Jesus with my students.  And while it is difficult, I think it's pretty incredible how God continues to work and reveal himself in a place where the His name can hardly be spoken.