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    How do we break the cycle? Confession. Humility. Brokenness. Honesty. Sincerity. Willingness. And repentance. No more hiding. No more secrets. We must bring it into the light and seek the appropriate help and accountability to overcome the issues we have stifled. Everyone doesn’t have to know, but someone does; and that someone needs to hold us accountable and be willing to ask us the hard things. Everything changes or nothing changes.

How do we beat the comparison trap? First, we begin with thankfulness. We look at the things God has done, is doing, and will continue doing in our lives. In the hard moments, we look for opportunities to choose praise and thankfulness and we make it a daily practice. And we spend time in God’s word. Paul told the New Testament followers that he had found the secret of contentment. His sole ambition was bringing glory to God, whether in life or in death.

Sarah’s anxiety created a reality that was completely untrue. She fed a lie, because of insecurity and anxious thoughts, and almost lost some real friendships. Anxiety is real and it doesn’t play fair or nice.

So how do we correct this? We must find a trustworthy God-honoring friend who we can confide in. Bringing light into the dark recesses of our mind is critical. Once we admit our untruth, we then seek to find God’s actual truth to replace that lie with. Then we place that roadblock of truth in our mind. Every time our self-talk swings to unrealities, we say no, that’s not the truth. God says I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139).

And what happens to our minds? We form narratives. Imagine what went through different brains during the restaurant scene.               If I can just get an opening, I can take him without causing harm.               Maybe if I’m quiet and submissive it will be over soon.               Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.               Where are the kids? I’ve got to protect the kids. I can’t lose any of them.               Where’s my phone? I’ve got to call 911.

What if the writers of the Old Testament and gospels had never written down what took place while Jesus was on earth? What if early astronomers had not written about their assumptions based on nature? And what if historians and news reporters had not cataloged the events of the Holocaust, World Wars, or Korean Conflict?

Both of the units, the one my English teacher engaged me in, and the immersive speech lesson that concluded a unit, changed me for a lifetime. These teachers taught me to tap into my love for words and learning and to be confident in the presence of others—both skills that propel me forward each day. How can we have this type of influence on our students? What thematic units in language arts classes can change a student’s direction for a lifetime?

Thematic units in social studies and history curriculum can be enlightening. Instead of sticking to the book, explore the standards and find ways to connect today’s youth to yesterday’s lives. We will find that we aren’t as different as we think and maybe a student will be inspired for a lifetime.

Math doesn’t have to be dry; it can be filled with inquisition and fun discussions. Units on measurement can lead to scavenger hunts, measuring items around the campus. Lessons on shapes, lines, and angles can take the class to the library to identify those items in picture books. Discussions on historical events can lead to charts, graphs, and timelines.

Think about, plan, and implement units that will leave a lasting impression on your kids. These units can evoke deep thoughts and life-changing conversations. Ask questions that will require inward examination and action. These discussions could also lead them to ask questions about their faith.  

Science captivates. And so does God. Even if your school does not allow God’s creation to be reference, remember Romans 1:20 (ESV): “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Ask God to make himself known to your students through the excitement, awe, and wonder around them. And immerse them deeply into his amazing creati

A thought hit me as I was pulling this devotion together. Kids are freer to be themselves when they feel safe. They sleep solidly when they feel safe. And they relax when they feel safe. Maybe the reason that kid always sleeps in your class is because he knows you’ll love him no matter what. Or maybe that kid who drives you nuts behaves that way because he is comfortable in his skin and safe in your class. Food for thought. Safety is an attractive comfort.

In our classrooms, while consequences matter, so do mercy and compassion. When we read the scripture today, think about how mercy and compassion accompany boundaries and consequences and seek to apply them into your daily interactions with students.           

 How we interact with our students matters. Empty threats, whole group punishments, and inconsistent rewards do not equal trust. Constantly changing our minds or vacillating on our yeses and noes creates chaos inside our classrooms. Like my professor, we should be respected by our students and trusted to speak kind, encouraging, and productive words. Our students need to know that we mean what we say and never question that reality.

  One of the characteristics I love about God is his consistency. No matter how far I run or how much I mess up, he’s always there wooing me back to his heart. His love is unchanging and his words are always true. I feel safe with him because I never have to wonder about his love. He can never love me any more or any less than he does right now.

Our homes are the same. Creating places for items and processes for trash, dishes, and laundry help the house run smoothly. Schedules for meals, bedtimes, and wakeups help with consistency too. Procedures in the home provide security, comfort, and safety.

The same is true in our classrooms. Safety and love go hand in hand. One of the ways to create safety in the classroom is consistency. Teachers who are regularly in attendance and arrive on time provide comfort for students. Rules and discipline that are practiced fairly show consistency. Our speech and words impact the feeling of safety as do our actions or inactions. Having set procedures, routines, and jobs also adds to the safety of a classroom.

Like the National Cemetery, we often see loss after loss. There will be casualties, but they don’t have to happen on our watch. Let us pray for open hearts. Open eyes. Open hands. And open arms. Let us diligently seek the ones that might be lost to these cruelties of this dark world. And let’s protect these kids while we can; and stop the casualties of war.

None of the Jews were a mere statistic. And none of our students are either. Each life matters and even if assigned a number, that number will always have a face and name attached. Our students matter. They matter to their classmates. And our future. The way we teach could impact and change a kid for the rest of their life.

Back to my year of teaching, I vowed to help my students learn that life wasn’t about right and wrong choices; just choices with different consequences or rewards. On decisions of morality, we learned right and wrong, but answers in the classroom, I had to teach these students they were not defined by their answer choices. They each had a unique personality that could never be measured by a test. As teachers, we must be aware of this differentiation and teach our students to