I admit to being a shameless eavesdropper. I even took a class in college where that was a graded assignment: eavesdrop and record compelling conversations. I mean no malice by it.
Today we sat in front of one of my children’s primary teacher in Sacrament Meeting. I know very little about this woman and truthfully, the most I have thought about her and her family is that she has a daughter with the most beautifully thick and perfectly coiffed hair and I have coveted. But during the minutes before the meeting began, I found myself listening to her conversation with an older gentleman next to her. I didn’t turn around, so I don’t know if the conversation began because she was making last minute lesson preparations or because she had a picture from the library.
But Bro M asked her what the name of her class was and she said, “Nothing special, just [insert name of class].” And (here’s the part which made me love Bro M) Bro. M said, “Of course that’s special! Those kids have never been that age before. This is the most important time in their life!” And she said, “Well, I guess so, they are a handful of a class.” Not a spectacularly compelling conversation to eavesdrop and record, except that my child is one of those handful children. And he IS a handful and we, his parents, struggle and pray, and yell and cajole and pray some more about how best to lead him in the paths of righteousness, or at least in the paths that do not lead to WWF in the backseat of the van or mayhem that results in bodily injury or irreparable property damage. Sometimes our goals are very simple. And most of his class is startlingly like him. But he has a tender heart. A heartbreakingly tender heart and as his mother I want his primary teacher to love him and want to teach him so that she has the strength of purpose to get beyond how difficult or exhausting doing so may be on a regular basis. So, to that end, I pray that Bro. M’s words sunk deep into her heart so that she could see that her class is special and that her job is very special. And to that end, I pray that Bro. M’s words can sink deep into my heart so that I can remember that all my jobs are very special because the spirits over whom I have stewardship are very special and this is the most important time in all our lives. Bless you Brother M.
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3 comments:
Amen!! We definitely need more
Bro M.s around. I had one guy substitute for me once thinking I was so glad to have just a warm body in my place. He really taught me a lesson cause after the class was done, he mailed me notes from what they covered and the worksheet they had used and comments the children had shared in class. I was blown away. He had taken more time and loved those kids more than I had and I was the one called to the position. I never looked at my calling the same.
Angie - I'm an eavesdropper too! I love to go out to eat and observe and listen to the people around me. What a wise comment from Brother M - and words I needed to hear. I enjoyed this post!
Hi Angie! Thanks for lurking :o) I don't mind a bit...
It was so fun to read through your blog. I love how you write--it's so eloquent and funny at the same time. You catch all the little wonderful (and insane) parts of being a mom. Thanks for your insights and perspective! Hope it's OK that I keep checking :o)
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