God has endless ways to allow His truth to be spoken into our lives which become some of the most precious moments in life. Today, like most Mondays, I went to RE Bennett, where I received a lesson that encompassed joy, hardship, and simplicity. While processing today's time at RE Bennett, I am once again reminded that I am blessed to know my Father, Jesus Christ, and to be able to encounter Him in such a raw and real way. Perspective.
I spent the first half hour of my weekly visit in the classroom. Returning back to the room of my first and second grade teacher, I was allowed to be able to go around and help the kids. It's such a priviledge to be able to go into an area of my past but with such a different perspective. Already more than ten years ago, I now sympathize as I was once one of those students to be overwhelmed, confused, and greatly frustrated with the complexity that appeared with double digit subtraction. As I watched these kids try their best to do the mathematical exercises, I realized something greater. Perspective.
Once the first half hour ended, the second was filled with total excitement during my favorite part of my Mondays: Recess. During the thirty minutes of chaos, so many different things routinely happen. Kids are yelling for my attention, longing to hold my hand, waiting for a hug, antagonistically egging me on in a Tetherball battle, wanting me to listen, or simple yearning to be with me. At one point, a boy named Jonah came up to me saying, "Kari, I really need to talk to you." Perspective.
There was no hesitation. I wanted to hear all that he had to say. Admist the craziness, I stepped out of the current game of "ICE." (Oh the games I am slowly learning.) As I asked him what was up, he shared as his eyes began to display the reality of his emotions through the tears that threatened to roll down his face. "I was playing with those boys...over there...and they were just being mean...and they wouldn't let me play because they were always getting me out and so as soon as I got in to play...they would get me out because they just want to play with all their friends and they don't let me play long enough and I'm not having fun...and I don't like it and I want to play and I want to have fun and then...we did 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' and I put a paper and then he put a dynamite and...that wasn't fair because we were playing 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'......and there's no dynamite in 'Rock, Paper, Scissors" and so they just kept playing and it wasn't fair and I want to have fun." Perspective.
After assembling a small group of six other kids to join Jonah and I to play the game he so badly wanted to, Jonah's eyes were no longer reflecting pain but joy...and so much of it. Perspective.
As I drove away, having said my 'goodbyes,' I was overwhelmed with God's joy, His sovereignty, and the realization that I am so much like these kids. I have recently been overwhelmed, confused, and greatly frustrated. Currently, I have a lot of thoughts about life and my life in particular. There are questions I'm asking and things that are happening in life that are comparably resulting the frustration that come with double digit subtraction and kids not playing fair at recess. However, God reminded me today that currently, previously, always, and forevermore, He looks at me with a far greater compassion than I will ever have in my heart for these kids as I watch them encounter their daily hardships. Perspective.
With a greater perspective, I can count frustrations, hardships, confusion, and trials all joy. God is the Almighty. He is in control. Jesus has asked for me to follow Him. He has invited me to a newness of life that is full and complete in Him. My Lord, Jesus Christ, knows all.
What am I doing with my life? Where am I going? How will I do it? What will my life look like? Who will I be? Why am I here? How can I add a single day to my life by worrying about the unknown? Perspective.
