I think my relationship with students is a little bit like how God relates to us. Don't worry, I'm not being blasphemous. I am not calling myself God. But the idea has been impressed upon me recently that God feels the same way about us as I sometimes feel about my students. I suspect similar things could be said about how parents relate to their children. Parents hurt when their children hurt. Parents hurt when their children do hurtful things, to themselves, to their siblings, or to their parents. Parents want the best for their children. Parents want to see children grow up to bigger and better things. They want them to experience as much joy and happiness, fulfillment, etc., as they possibly can.
Now to teachers. Teachers hurt when students hurt. Teachers hurt when their students do hurtful things, to themselves, to other students, or to their teachers. Teachers want the best for their students. Teachers want to see students develop intellectually, emotionally, socially, to be able to tackle bigger and better things. They want them to experience as much joy and happiness, etc., as they possibly can. They want them to be a success in life.
I think this is why it can be difficult for teachers when students say and do hurtful things. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It is good, because the day I stop caring how my students feel is probably the day I should stop teaching. An apathetic teacher is a bad teacher. On the other hand, it also means that students can do hurtful things to a teacher. Today I experienced a little of this, in the form of some rude comments. It has left me baffled, and somewhat hurt. Why this outburst? Doesn't this student realize I only want the best for them? What is the reason for the irritable behavior? Did I do something that triggered such a response? Is the issue one I should worry about or is it something they need to work out? Are they simply stressed by school work, tired, stressed by a relationship gone awry, or what?
I cannot stand tension when I am unsure whether there is a problem on my end. Even when I know I have not done anything wrong, it is difficult to know that someone dislikes me. Thus I analyze things to death, and ponder the cause of, and the best way to deal with, the tension. Obviously God has no such questions to consider when He is affronted. But I can relate a little bit to the hurt He must feel when His law is violated. After all, the offense is one that cuts against His perfect plan, which is designed with our best interests in mind. "Can't you just realize that I have your best interests in mind, and you have no reason to resist or dislike the program?" is a question I wish students could learn to answer with a resounding affirmative. I suspect God feels similarly whenever we sin. Thankfully there is plenty of grace and mercy sprinkled in with His feelings of disappointment and longing that we get it right! I am thankful for the model we have in Him, because it inspires me to also let my speech and behavior be sprinkled with grace and mercy, despite the insults that fly. And because He has modeled forgiveness, and forgiven much, I can do the same in dealing with the petty insults of my students.
