You would think that we’ve been long time friends the way
the students ran over to us as soon as they saw us, engulfing us in hugs. Right
away the girls around me let me know what pictures they wanted to draw with me
that day, and that became the incentive as we first plunged into their
homework. Of course, some of the students weren’t fans of their homework; but
others welcomed our corrections, even if it meant more work for them. This
brought me so much joy. It’s one thing to get something done. It’s another to
give something your best. I saw the perfect student in some of these kids. They
had a desire to learn, coupled with a persistence to do their homework the
right way and not take shortcuts. Week two, and I already know that I am going
to learn a lot more than just new names with these children. They’re talented,
their excited, and they beam when someone notices. From the five year old that
already has a killer “Tom Brady” throw with a football, to the young artists
who use almost every color in the 64 pack of crayons, to the older girl who
stayed inside with me long after all the other kids had finished their homework
so she could finish hers, the right way. She went above and beyond on each of
her assignments, even though it took her longer and caused her to miss out on
some play time.
These kids have so much personality, energy, and joy. It’s simply a blast to spend an afternoon with
them.
Tutoring, for me, didn’t end there. One of the ladies who
came to our Bible study last week is in a math class, so we both came a little
early and did some algebra together before Bible study started. Working with
her made me realize that there are a lot of fundamentals I’ve learned that I’ve
taken for granted. I began to realize how confusing this math class must be as
I realized this. But she’s a hard
worker. And she asks the questions to make sure she really understands each
step of the problem. She brought the same hardworking, inquisitive mind to the Bible
lesson. Everyone did. There were great questions and comments throughout the whole
lesson as Pastor Geating took us through the first five verses of 1 Corinthians
2. A powerful passage that reminds us
of His power and
our desperate need for a personal relationship with him. I love learning. I love seeing and helping
others learn. But last night’s lesson reminded me of how all the knowledge in
the world is meaningless unless there is a knowledge and desire to continue to
know Him. “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him
crucified” (1 Corinithians 2:2). Does the knowledge of Him and what He’s done
for me affect me daily? Does it affect the way I interact with these students
at the recreation center? Is it a game changer in my life?
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