June Preschool Devotion
“But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart: consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24 NIV).
I taught in a private Christian school for five years as an elementary teacher. I fondly look back at those years as some of the toughest and best in my teaching career.
This teaching position came at a time in my life when I did not expect to be teaching again. After a 180-degree turn in the plans for my life, God opened the door to this school and gave me a new direction.
I was experienced in teaching preschoolers and kindergarten. I love those ages with all my heart! But God placed me in a combined class of not one, but two grade levels! This is often the case in private schools, and I was unprepared for the fast pace and second and third graders. Let me add that they were not prepared for me either—particularly one little boy who was downright angry that the teacher he had so been looking forward to having was now teaching fourth and fifth grade.
The emotions. The steep learning curve. The exhaustion. The excitement. If I’m honest, even the disappointment I felt at the abrupt change in “my” plans. Ah, Angie. Surely God shakes His head at times, wondering when I will pause and remember that He has a plan for my life, and His plans are so much better than mine.
God did have better plans, and I was shortly back to teaching my beloved kindergartners.
Better yet, at a private Christian school, one gets to teach about Jesus, God, and the Bible. We learned Bible stories and Bible verses. We sang worship songs, prayed together, and talked about spiritual topics. As I served the Lord in that unexpected place, I was tremendously blessed with joy. His joy and great delight! My walk with the Lord deepened and I grew spiritually as I worshiped and prayed with my kindergartners and the school staff.
Serving the Lord, despite the address or job assignment, is the best place to be. As we love and teach our preschoolers, let’s embrace the joy of serving the Lord and allow that joy to shine for others to see. Let’s tell those we meet of the great things He has done for us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank You for having a plan for our lives where we can love and serve You with great joy. Open our eyes to see how You are working in our lives and in the lives of the precious preschoolers around us. Fill us with Your joy and delight in the work You have given us to do. In Your Holy Name, amen.
Angie Quantrell is the editor for WMU preschool resources.