1st Year worKING Anniversary!
March 1st, on this date exactly 365 days ago, I remember feeling on top of the world having received a tremendous blessing: the news of my posting. What a joyous day it was! Best of all, it’s a dream come true! Today, I would love to erect a memorial pillar to commemorate the LORD’s great faithfulness over the passing days. Needless to say, this reflective writing is a feeble attempt to capture all the lessons learnt (during the period of 1 year) in its entirety. Nevertheless, I pray may the LORD bless and multiply this, my ‘five loaves and two fishes’ and may our spirits be fed and edified as we behold Him in the story. May I therefore, kindly invite you, buddy to join me glance backwards in gratitude.. and in seeing His handiwork and active presence woven into our seemingly mundane routine, may we be encouraged to move forward, ‘walking by faith, not by sight.’ (2 Corinthians 5:7) Alright, without further ado, let’s get started! (^o^,)(") # Lesson 1: (Not just a ) Job I remember how zealous I was in the spirit when I first started a year ago. (Oh, then again, I was suddenly reminded of how much more zealous I was when I first received the news of getting into the Institute of Teacher Education half a decade ago.) What about now? Having been in the harvest field, experiencing first-hand its mountain and valley experience, am I still on fire? Or.. have I forsaken my first love and become lukewarm.. or burnt out instead? This day, I am humbly reminded that my job is more than just a repetitive routine. It is a holy ground where I would encounter Him continuously, thereby be enriched by the revelation of who He is, my Pearl of Great Price! May I give some examples? In my weakness, He is my strength. In my anxiety, His peace becomes mine. In my sadness, His joy is my strength. In my struggle, my Helper is Him. In everything, He is my All in all! In other words, challenges are certain and the road is narrow. Yet, the journey uphill would soon find me at the foot of the Cross and in the embrace of the Lover of my Soul! # Lesson 2: Relationship with fellow colleagues, superiors and school community members Working in an organization and sharing the same goal, it is imperative that we are united in mind and purpose. To this end, I must guard my heart and mind against all forms of flesh-produced darkened counsels that seek to germinate seeds of discord, impurity of thoughts and division. Daily I have to beg the LORD to grant me grace to walk in the newness of life, His highway of holiness and be led by His Spirit. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We must take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” For Christ to dwell in me, there must be no room for even traces of sin to tarry! In other words, I cannot let Donna’s voice be louder than the Wonderful Counselor. He is supreme and the Higher Authority to whom I am subjected to. At times, however, I confess that my old lowly nature tend to resurrect upon confronted with real issues at hand. My ego gets hurt! But in a way, that’s good. Better still, let it be seriously hurt and soon die. Be subdued my self-righteousness, self-confidence, self-preservation, self-sufficiency.. be subdued all of them in their totality till Christ (and Him alone) be sanctified as the Lord in my heart; the only One worthy calling the shots of my decisions, emotions, feelings, actions and everything I am: His Word = final. In Hebrews, we read this phrase ‘surrounded by these clouds of witnesses…” (Hebrews 12:1). In our real lives and at workplace, I think we are no less surrounded by good living examples if we are willing to see. I personally thank the LORD for the living examples I am privileged to work with. Of course every individual has their own limitations but essentially what we magnify is what we see. Seeing others in light of His grace, may our quests be more about ‘What is ‘right’ about him/her? Instead of ‘What is ‘wrong’ with him/her? For this, I pray may the LORD grant me humility to learn, eyes that lovingly highlights the best in the others as well as purity at heart that ‘nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, esteem others to be better than oneself’ (Philippians 2:3). Looking at the example of Lord Jesus, He ‘emptied himself to the point of death’ (Philippians 2:8) not for men’s applause but for the single motivation of fulfilling God’s will in his life. # Lesson 3: Relationship with the pupils Naa.. Here’s where we’ll be talking about my clients, to which the Bible describes as ‘to such (the children) the Kingdom of God belongs to.’ (Luke 18:16) Honestly buddy, when the Wonderful Counselor opened my eyes to see my clients in light of that verse, it struck and changed me ever since. It is not mere stickmen I am dealing with.. they’re the stakeholders of His Kingdom, no kidding! With this in mind, I stagger at the thought of how privileged is my position to partake in serving them. However, here’s the thing: I am clueless on how to go about it! Despite the period of half a decade of training in the college, reality and theories however, are pretty contrast! Even so, I rejoice at the hope-filled humility exemplified by King Solomon in the Bible. If just a small number of our little predecessors enough to petrify me, I could relate to how King Solomon would feel then, as a kingdom was rested on his shoulder. But take heart, for the LORD of whom he put faith on is the same One to whom we could claim the same prayer; “Now, o LORD my God, You have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am amidst Your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern Your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9) On top of that, I was yet reminded of the attribute of Lord Jesus. He invited us to come and promised us rest, and additionally he said, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” (Matthew 11:29) Did you see that, buddy? Working is so enriching an experience. We certainly have loopholes, but He makes us whole- to the conformity of His image! Essentially, it is not just about ‘our students and us’ but ‘us as disciples and God, our Master’. # Lesson 4: Relationship with the LORD Last but not least, working is ultimately about the KING-at-work in me, through me and for me; worKING. God in His sovereignty and power could easily raise a stone and make a superb teacher compared to me. Yet, it is so precious of Him to count me worthy of His thoughts and to partake in His service. Looking forward, this I know.. By sight, teaching life is no more than about pupils, activities, exams and studies. But by faith, it’s about an adventure with the Master in touching and transforming lives. My part in this? As in the first Miracle in Cana, it’s simply to be obedient to the Master’s word.. the miracle shall follow thereof!(see John 2:1-11) Other words for that? God the Wonders-Doer and us the Miracles-Beholder! O God of all my days, Blessed be YOUR name! A sinner by nature, A redeemed one by grace, A teacher by profession, A disciple of Christ by faith, Donna D.
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