Wednesday's Word of Wisdom

Sorry for being MIA lately.  My internet hasn't been working since the weekend which has thrown my whole week off.  AT&T finally got the outage back on today.  Hopefully, I will get to post what I was wanting to post on Monday tomorrow so make sure to check back.

Thank you for all the encouraging comments about the new series, "Wednesday's Word of Wisdom".  I really look forward to this post each week.  It's strange to say that the verse for this week came to me in a devotion that I read on Thursday morning right after posting my first post in the series on Wednesday night.  I felt reassured that I am doing the right thing with this series.  So here it goes...

"Pray that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel." - Ephesians 6:19

As teachers, we have to watch everything we say and do.  Sometimes this does not only go for at school but out in the community as well (Especially if you live in a small community like I do.).  There are little eyes watching everywhere.  I think it is sometimes easy to watch what we say in front of the children.  However, we forget that our words can really hurt when it comes to speaking to our colleagues as well.  This can create disharmony in a school if we do not think before we speak.

In my devotion this week, Lysa TerKeurst stated "Don't let your lips or typing fingertips be the first thing that walks into a conflict."  With the start of school quickly approaching, many of us are back in our school buildings working alongside other teachers trying to get our rooms ready.  Some of these teachers are ones that we have made great friendships with throughout the years and some may be new to the grade, school, or community.  It is easy to get back into our little cliques that were formed from the year past, but we have to remember how it would feel if we were on the outside looking in. 

Additionally, teachers are use to working with children all day long.  We do not have to put up with other adults for very long in a traditional work day, but with the start of school we are forced to collaborate and work alongside other teachers to make sure everything is back in order for the school year to run smoothly.  This may mean that you have to work with someone that you just do not get along with or one that gets on your last nerves.  We have to make sure that we pray before speaking that the right words will come out of our mouths in order not to stir up conflict at the start of a school year or at any point in the school year.  This is sometimes easier said than done, but hopefully this verse will be a good reminder.  We have to remember that just a few words can really hurt someone and that we are in the school for the children.

I pray that God will guide us with the words that come out of our mouths in order that we can be an example for Him and that we are able to grow a bond with the new faculty and staff in our schools in order to be a positive role model for the children.

Elizabeth L.