The theme of our ward conference this morning was Charity (the pure love of Christ), which goes along beautifully with the theme for our Teacher Inservice meeting tonight which is Loving Those We Serve. I think it's rather great that these two meetings are happening just days before Valentine's Day because I have been thinking about Love so much and feel like I'm approaching it from a full heart rather than a shmoopsy point of view.
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." I Corinthians 13:2-10
I love these scriptures! It's both comforting and daunting to know that we can have every talent, every blessing, be super dedicated and so on, but if we don't have love we have nothing.
From a teaching perspective (and parenting perspective) loving those we serve is the key to everything. "If we want to influence learners for good, we should not merely love to teach; we should love each person we teach. We should measure our success by the progress of those we teach, not by the excellence of our performance." --Teaching No Greater Call page 31
This quote kind of cracked me up, because it made me think of someone doing a great job with their lesson, but coming away unsuccessful because they didn't love those they taught. Not that that's funny, but the image of a teacher being impressed with his own performance is.
I think we've all had or our kids have had teachers that clearly love them and teachers that are just getting by. Loving can be a hard a thing to do, and I've always thought that maybe this was a weak point of mine, but the more I think back to the kids I've taught in primary, the girls I've taught in Young Women's, the sisters I've visit taught and so on I see that I absolutely loved them and did my best to reach them. This gives me hope as a mother, because maybe I'm doing better than I think I am!
I love these scriptures! It's both comforting and daunting to know that we can have every talent, every blessing, be super dedicated and so on, but if we don't have love we have nothing.
From a teaching perspective (and parenting perspective) loving those we serve is the key to everything. "If we want to influence learners for good, we should not merely love to teach; we should love each person we teach. We should measure our success by the progress of those we teach, not by the excellence of our performance." --Teaching No Greater Call page 31
This quote kind of cracked me up, because it made me think of someone doing a great job with their lesson, but coming away unsuccessful because they didn't love those they taught. Not that that's funny, but the image of a teacher being impressed with his own performance is.
I think we've all had or our kids have had teachers that clearly love them and teachers that are just getting by. Loving can be a hard a thing to do, and I've always thought that maybe this was a weak point of mine, but the more I think back to the kids I've taught in primary, the girls I've taught in Young Women's, the sisters I've visit taught and so on I see that I absolutely loved them and did my best to reach them. This gives me hope as a mother, because maybe I'm doing better than I think I am!
**What do you think??**
11 comments:
Thanks for this post, Jill. I have been having an off kind of day and needed the reminder to reach outside of myself. I think it was Sister Beck who reminded us that the cure for loneliness is service (?).
I definitely believe that love is the wonderful essence that fills in the cracks of our inadequacies and makes up for so many of our mistakes.
Also, I love that General Conference kit--totally an idea I will be copying ;)
What do I think? I think you are phenomenal..really! I enjoy your blog and look forward to reading everyday. Thanks
Sorry, I don't have a blog.
Jill, you make me laugh. I would never say that you lack the ability to love. Your love for others practically spills from your blog! (and no, not in a shmoopsy way--boy did I enjoy THAT reference)
Simply as you go about reporting what you've done with your day, some form or another of service is always included in your daily run-down. Haven't you noticed that about yourself yet? It is something I admire about you. And not only are you constantly doing something for someone, or in the process of the doing, but you make it SPECIAL. Your little gifties and treats and baskets and notes are so unique and individualized!
You have the gift of thoughtfulness.
I so look forward to your Sunday thoughts.
I know it's true we have to Love who we Teach. It's not always easy, although sometimes it is easy.
I think Love is definately an action word. You have a gift for acting on your loving feelings for others, not just thinking about it. so many times, I think about it, but then don't do anything. you have inspired me to act lovingly. thanks jill-
I think you said it all! Seriously, the love is where it is at in teaching, serving, family life, everywhere. Thank you for the beautiful reminder!
I am glad your inservice went well. Thanks for my labels they are great!
I definitely think you love more than you give yourself credit for. I also have been feeling full of love as Valentine's Day approaches -- it's a refreshing change!
I remember when I was in primary and trying to contact some of the less active kids. Through some mild success, we managed to have a few start coming and they were absolutely delightful. Soon, they were begging for talk assignments, chances to sing solos etc...anything to bask in more love. And we really did love them.
Wouldn't you know it, a few months later the parents started coming too? I wondered aloud at this, at the enormous potential for bring the gospel to entire families by reaching out to their children when a wiser woman than me said, "The best way to soften a heart is to love their child." I thought about that, and how the people I'm the most fond of love my children. It's not the easiest thing to do, either...genuinely love and appreciate a child as well as a parent. Because, honestly, some are hard and annoying. But those scriptures you included, I believe they mean it. You can do and do and do and do, but until the feeling is there, the charity, it is for naught. However, the doing and the doing tends to bring on the feeling, I think.
Whoa. Sorry about my discourse.
great post jill, very inspiring to me. i think you are definitely doing a better job that you think you are! we all are! i hope!
I always enjoy your Sunday thoughts. You are a very good and living example of charity.
i love this post, jill. i second francie in that you are phenomenal.
i get the loving the ones you teach thing. i have had a lot of students outside of a church setting- and now that they come back to me and talk to me about things they learn, etc., i realize that more important than WHAT i taught that day is how they felt- and i'm glad at least some of them come away knowing i care about them individually (even in a sea of 200).
i have learned even more about this in primary- i seriously love those kids. even the "hard to love" ones. that dawned on me as i watched my old class' new teacher struggling with them and even as i breathed a sigh of relief that i no longer have children climbing the walls, i couldn't help but smile knowing that this teacher will come to love those little hooligans and those kids will learn the gospel by how they feel more than anything.
Post a Comment