I have the power...

Ahhhh another great kid!  I was talking to a child that has a tendency to have "over the edge spunk" to say the least.  He is very active and can make things challenging.  I am drawn to some over others.  There are some that can just hold their own and often try to run the class.  This one is not one of them. 

After repeatedly telling him to settle down, I "changed his color."  Being in first grade, the teachers have a system that was used with my own son many years ago.  The teacher has a yard stick divided in thirds and painted red, yellow and green.  You do not want to be caught in the red!  Everyone starts off on green and then they can be moved according to their behavior.

Having thirty years in policing, I do not use it often-partially because I just forget.  I have never worked on "warning" I operate on "compliance" so it is difficult for me to remember this option of the color coded stick.

The other day, having said enough, I moved five children to yellow, this child being one of them.  I proceeded with my day seeing that some of those five had gloom on their faces and displayed their displeasure much like we as adults do by slumping in their chair with their arms crossed.  It did not hinder or bother me at all.

This child however, continued with his normal "spunk."  He is a child with much potential but he has to be prompted.  He requires additional praise and recognition.  With his behavior pattern continuing, I finally pulled him aside and asked "Will you please settle down!"  He responded "It's too late for me to change."  Baffled with his response I proceeded with the conversation by asking what he meant.  He simply responded "I'm already at yellow, changing my behavior now won't change that yellow-so it's too late for me because it won't change."

It was then that I knelt to his level and told him "I have the power to turn that yellow back into a green. Only I have that power but the first effort has to come from you.  Don't ever settle for where you are because you think it won't change....I can change that yellow and you can have a new start!"

What ensued next is what touched me.  He responded "Oh it's like Jesus Christ, he has the power to forgive."  "Yes" I said, "Jesus has the power to forgive us and make us new again."  I realized how important it was to this child to have a "new beginning."  The other lesson in this is that I made a new friend.  He has seen my heart as I have seen his. 

When we returned to the class, he kept his eye on me and me on him.  I was looking for that reaction.  I proceeded straight to the yard stick and move all of them back to green.  I felt like they had learned their lesson but the one that learned the greatest lesson was me.  His smile was priceless.

That child became my inspiration to remember that not everyone is at the same place.  Not everyone has the same knowledge and some are holding on to things and behavior believing that "it won't change."

I'm here to tell you that Jesus Christ has the power to change any situation....so you find yourself on yellow?  Don't fall for the lie....the enemy would have you believe that you are condemned to staying there...he might even convince you to continue your behavior because nothing will change.

I'm here to tell you the truth!  Jesus can turn an "it can't change" to "I have the power to change it!"

Let go and believe that He has the power!

Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covred.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.  Romans 4:7-8