As Pilot and I unloaded our shopping cart onto the check-out counter, I noticed the cashier in the aisle next to ours.

“That’s one of my former students.”

“Good or bad?”

“Bad. Good. I need to talk with him.”

Through the years while I taught, and since I’ve retired from teaching, I’ve often run into former students. So seeing a former student wasn’t anything new. But I hadn’t seen J, as I’ll call him, since he was in 6th grade. I wanted to find out how he was doing.

God had provided me with another grace-drop.

J was scanning his customer’s order when I walked to the end of his aisle.

“Hi, J. I’m Mrs. Quandt. Your 3rd grade teacher.”

Recognition. Then a shy smile.

“Hi. I didn’t recognize you.”

“That’s okay. I recognized you. How you doing? You’ve graduated already, right?”

Not only had J  graduated, he was in college working toward a double bachelor’s degree.

“Excellent! I’m really proud of you.”

Again, a smile.

Go back 12 years…J transferred to our school after his parents divorced. His mother had several abusive live-ins while J was in my class. J had a really tough time. J threw chairs and anything else he could get his hands on. At one point, I told him to sit at the table next to me. He proceeded to throw the chairs away from the table, then sat under it.

“I hate you! You’re the meanest teacher I’ve ever had!”

“I’m sorry you feel that way. You can finish your work under the table.”

J never threw another thing the rest of the year, and our relationship definitely improved.

Three years later, I saw J at his middle school. He was a leader in the Junior ROTC program. I was so proud of him.

So I’m thinking…aren’t there times we throw things at God? We yell at Him? Chafe against His discipline? Tell God He isn’t doing things the correct way? That’s when God tells us He’s sorry we feel that way. Then He lets us cool off under the table of his love and protection, where we’ll be safe. When we’re ready to crawl out, He’s right there waiting for us.

God’s got a better plan for us. He knows our potential, even when we don’t. God knows the good things we’ll accomplish, even when we don’t believe it’s possible. God created us. Knit us together. He goes before us and prepares the way. Our job is to remember to follow His path for our life. Our success doesn’t surprise God. And you know what? We make him proud.

Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.  Psalm 1:1-3

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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