Alfy

Day 1

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 (ESV)

Alfy waltzed into my classroom the first week of school with the charm of a gameshow host. Cheesy smile, boisterous presence, and humorous personality. As the weeks went on, his charmful façade eroded to expose the deep root of anger that could erupt without warning. Defensive angry words. Hurtful cuss words directed at other students. And defiance toward all authority figures.

I warned Alfy about his blow ups. The other two teachers in my wheel had constant issues with him. He was quickly becoming a nuisance and “bad” student. Then, one day, he erupted in such a way that action had to occur. Foul language spewed across my classroom and total chaos ensued.

I motioned for him to follow me into my office and closed the door. “Dial your mama’s number.”

The angry shade in his cheeks faded. “No, Mrs. Adams. Not Mama. I’ll be good. I promise.”

Fear encompassed him, and I could see genuine terror, but I was too far in to back out now.

“Dial your mama. We’ll talk to her on speaker phone.”

He knew I was serious and dialed the number. When his mom answered I told her what happened. The speaker exploded with expletives and beratement from his mother. The verbal beating went on for ten solid minutes. And my heart broke.

I watched him take in every word through his ears and then land as an attack in his heart. She demanded certain responses from him, and I knew when he got home it would be ten times worse.

The phone call ended and his head collapsed into his hands. Tears. Sobs. Embarrassment. I fought back my own tears as I carefully chose my next words. “Alfy. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll never put you in that situation again if you promise to fix your attitude in my class.”

His eyes met mine. “What if I’m mad?”

“Then you have permission to stay outside or hide in my office for five minutes and get calmed down. No questions asked.”

He half-smiled. “You promise?”

I stuck my hand out and waited for his. “I promise.”

He shook my hand. “Deal.”

He became one of my star students after that day; always volunteering to help after class and doing anything I needed. The lower grades he received changed and he aced the state test that year.

Why the change?  Because I saw him with my heart instead of my eyes. God allowed me to see the bigger picture and I was able to express love and value in return. Alfy needed praise. He needed purpose. And love. As a result, I got my goofy, grinning, gameshow host back for the rest of the year.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Who are your Alfys?

2.      Who are your students that need some love and respect?

3.      How can you adjust your heart and interactions with your Alfys this week?

Digging Deeper

              Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a.

              As you read, ask God to develop the characteristics of love in your life and for eyes to see the Alfys like he sees them.

If You Get Spare Time

              Write a specific prayer for your Alfy and pray it daily. In that prayer, ask for God to make that child’s heart tender and for them to come to know God as their personal savior. Ask God to give your Alfy supernatural abilities to learn, understand, and grow in confidence. Then add anything else you would like to pray. But above all, pray for God to get the glory in all of it.