Tag: Students

My Space

 My Space
 
Many years ago we built a new classroom building at our church in Tucson. The church was growing and we needed more space for the nursery and young children. In addition, we planned to launch a new preschool when the new building was completed..
 
We hired an architect to draw up the plans and submitted them to the Pima County Building Department. The new building was designed to meet the building and safety requirements for a licensed preschool too.
 
We hired a local contractor to do some of the work and we did a lot of the construction ourselves. We begin to spread the word about the opening of the new preschool. My wife and two other women were the first faculty. Classes met on Tuesday – Friday from 8:30 to noon. I think there were a dozen students in the first class.
 
The new building was very helpful for the Sunday School classes too. Teachers were delighted to have larger classrooms for the children and a new nursery for Sunday mornings and the mid-week programs.
 
However we did not foresee a problem would emerge between the preschool teachers and the Sunday School teachers. Both groups expressed frustrations with the other. Preschool teachers complained that the Sunday morning teachers were using their materials and the Sunday morning teachers were frustrated that the preschool teachers were taking up most of the cupboards and storage space.
 
The solution was to change their perspective. Both ministries were important. One was not more important than the other. I suggested the teachers to look for ways they could help the other ministry. Don’t complain about the supplies and storage cabinets. Start asking what each of them could do to help the other ministry succeed.
 
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). If you are experiencing conflicts with other people in your family, work or school let me encourage you to put their interests ahead of your own. They will be glad you did and they will too.

You can read 365 more stories by the author in his book Let Me Encourage You by Mark Hopper. There is a story for every day of the year. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org. The price is only $20 per book plus $5 shipping.

There is a New Doctor in Town

Recently my wife tried to make a doctor’s appointment with our local medical provider. Unfortunately, her regular doctor was unavailable – his schedule was full. However, the person on the phone said that there was a new doctor at the clinic who could see my wife in a few hours. My wife felt she needed to get medical help as soon as possible so she gladly accepted the appointment.

When she checked in at the doctor’s office a few hours later she did not recognize the name of the physician she was scheduled to see. My wife was thankful someone was available and we later learned this was the last appointment of the day.

Because of the Corona Virus, both my wife and I and the doctor were wearing face masks. When the doctor reviewed my wife’s medical history she noticed that we lived in Diamond Bar. She mentioned that she had grown up in Diamond Bar too. My wife was surprised when the doctor shared that she had been a student at Chaparral Middle School where my wife taught sixth grade. Suddenly they both realized that my wife had been the doctor’s sixth grade teacher! Who would have thought that a former sixth grade student would become a medical doctor?

The doctor was pleased to be treating her former teacher and my wife was delighted to have a former student taking care of her. We were grateful for the amount of time the doctor spent with my wife and for the help the doctor provided.

One of my favorite people in the Bible is a man named Luke. He was also a doctor and a remarkable historian too. He is mentioned several times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14 / Second Timothy 4:11 / Philemon 24). He is also the author of two important historical books in the New Testament – The Gospel of Luke & The Acts of the Apostles. These two books provide an overview of the life of Jesus and the early church.

I am very thankful for the courage and sacrifice of all the medical professionals during the recent Corona Virus pandemic. It has been good to see signs posted at hospitals, clinics and nursing homes that say – Heroes Work Here. Let me encourage you to express your thanks to your doctors, nurses and medical staff. Thank them for the many years they have served you and your loved ones. And, if you are a school teacher, I hope you will be nice to your students. One day one of them may be your medical doctor!