Being Known

Day 1

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 (NLT)

The night before the first day of school was always a long night. I was that kid who loved school. The smell of books, the feel of pens and pencils, the creative joy of blank paper, the routine of sorting school supplies, and of course meeting my teachers. Who would my favorite teacher be? What topics would I learn about? Where would my desk be? How many of my friends would be in my class? Would finding my classes be easy or hard? I checked the clock all night long, hoping not to miss the alarm.

That feeling never went away. I won’t forget the night before I began my first full year of teaching. During teacher planning, I scavenged as many posters and decorations as I could, organized desks, and thought through all my plans for the first day of school. Even though excitement was a big emotion, I had big doubts too. Had I forgotten anything? Would they like me? Could I do this? Would they understand me? Was this really what God wanted me to do?

The next morning, I arrived an hour early and read my class roster repeatedly. I wanted to learn all their names by lunch and help them feel safe and known. Another important part was learning their nicknames. Having a first name that was not my known name made school a little frustrating at times. The teachers who took the time to remember my nickname showed me how much I mattered to them. These kids needed that same kind of consideration from me too.

Once my students arrived, we started our day with get-to-know-you activities. Games, handouts, and music filled the morning. By lunch, I knew every child’s first and last name. I also knew their favorite colors, foods, and hobbies. Every day that first week was filled with these types of activities and I built many of my projects and units around the information I gathered during that first day and week of school.

              There’s something special about being seen and known. To remember a person’s name is a big deal, but recalling important details about them and including special activities for their benefit makes them feel special. I still remember the students from that first class, and nothing warms my heart more than having one of them approach me in public, give me a hug, and introduce me to their children as their fourth-grade teacher. Immediately I remember those adults as students. Most of the time I’m thankful they outgrew childish habits and turned into productive citizens. And sometimes there are the ones who chose careers in education because of the influence I had on them in the classroom. I see them on campus and hug their necks, thankful that I knew them and now get to know them further as adults and peers.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Did you ever have a teacher who knew you beyond name and face? In what ways?

2.      What is the value of being seen and known just as we are?

3.      How does it make you feel when you think about God knowing you and each of your students intimately?

Digging Deeper

Read Psalm 139:13-18 (NLT)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

              This section of scripture comforts me like no other. No matter what we believe about ourselves or what we are told, each of us were made on purpose, with great detail, by our loving Creator God. Each of us matters to our Heavenly Father. And even bigger than that, each one of your students is loved like this too. How can we show our students that they are seen and known this week?

If You Get Spare Time 

              Think about the ways God shows you that he sees and knows you. Beautiful sunsets. A gorgeous starry night. Text or call from a friend. Songs on the radio. Affection from pets. Reminders through scripture. Spend time telling God thank you for all the small “winks” from him. Then ask him to remind you of the blessings when times become hard.