Thursday and Friday this past week, I was the opening person. That means that I had to get up an hour earlier then normal and open the doors for the kids that come until their bus picks them up for school. One of the boys that come is challenging because he gets upset easily at the little things. On Thursday morning, when he came in his mom said that he had some math homework he needed to finish and said if he didn't finish he would have to come to our after school program that day. So, we worked on it for about 30 minutes and he still didn't finish it. So, he realizes that he is not done when I tell everyone they needed to line up for the bus, so he becomes very angry, cries and is upset. He runs into the corner and cries and keeps saying over and over again, "I'm not going to finish, I'm not going to finish". So, I go over to him and talk with him calmly and tell him maybe we can try and finish as we wait for the bus outside. He just yells and says, "I'm never going to finish it". I then tell him, "well, maybe since you only had a little bit left I can call your mom and tell her that it is just a little bit and see if you can take it home instead of coming to A+. This still does not help and runs back over to the table and rips up 4 pages of his homework. So, I looked up at him and said, "that was not a good choice, we will have to find a solution, you may possibly have to do your homework over again, but I'll talk to Ms. Nell and see what she thinks." He looks at me still upset and we line up and go outside and wait for the bus. As the kids climb onto the bus I tell them I love them and as the boy that ripped up his homework gets on I looked at him and said, "I still love you, even though you ripped up your homework."
The next day, his mom had him come in and apologize to me about him ripping his homework and throwing a fit. We talked about different ways for him to react when he is angry and upset. I asked his mom what she wanted to do about the homework and she said she just wanted him to show the ripped up one to his teacher at school.
As, I began thinking about this situation. I realized how much this reflects our Heavenly Father's love for us is and his grace. I realized that many times in life I get upset and angry and make bad decisions. Yet, the Lord still loves me even though I do it and he gives me grace just as this child's mother did in not making him redo is homework. It made me think how many times have cried and got upset and Christ is right there in the corner with me telling me it is going to be ok. He tells me he still loves me even when I mess up. It was neat to see how God used this situation to remind me of his grace in a practical way. I understand God's grace and I know it is there and his love is there, but it was neat to see it in this situation.
Just thought I would share this with y'all.
It has been eventful since the last time I posted. This weekend we have gotten a lot of snow already. I shoveled for the first time. I have never seen snow so fluffy and it is suppose to continue on into Tuesday. Here are some pics so far of the snow!
The snow is also a good reminder of how Christ has washed us clean!
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