Updated: Oct 27, 2018
You’ve heard – “It’s not about getting, it’s about giving”. We all know the true joys of giving so this certainly makes sense, but have you ever considered that it is because we already have the “get”.
Students are prodded to get the right education, to get the skills they need to get the things they will need in life. Culture glamorizes and even worships the “get” as the ultimate goal. Some may say, when all of my hard “doing” results in getting things, why shouldn’t I be proud? Hard work IS an admirable trait to be worthy of reward, but getting should not the goal because we already got the “get”.
When God wove us in our mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13), He gave us all a unique set of gifts, abilities and personalities to serve a purpose. We need to help students see what they already have. We need to help them see themselves the way God sees them, full of potential for good work by His design. Add to this education, practice, experience, knowledge, skills, the Holy Spirit and you have a formula for success and the greatest of joys. This results in true joy that money can’t buy and “getting” can’t fill.
Where do you start? Change your mindset. We must see students, our children, the way God sees them, even the troubled ones, especially the troubled ones. They are already packed with a great purpose and full of potential by their creator.
When we believe this, it shows. We must help them see themselves this way despite their circumstances and what their culture says. Model this hope in your words and actions. Remind them who God says they are and offer your hand for the journey. Tell them that they already got the “get” from their heavenly father. This hope is fuel for their journey.
It’s not about getting, it’s about doing with what we already got. We already got the “get”, a great place to start.
Author: Kathy Pierce Howard, creator of Prep4Success Academy curriculum for educators and parents to enhance student motivation and success. www.prep4successacademy.com