Here we go again, thought the teacher. She was one month into her seventeenth year of
teaching and as she fondly gazed at her new class of First Graders, she considered their
various personalities. There was the predictable central core of average students from
average homes with delightful, but average behavior. There was the select group of â
€œstar studentsâ€� who were already ear-marked for success and beginning to become
aware of their above-average talents. And there were a few strugglers who were capable
of success, but who were faced with challenges. In short, the class had its usual
compliment of serious types and clowns, those eager to please and the self-motivated, the
compliant and the unruly. But this year she had a very challenging type to cope with: she
had a First Grade Pharisee.
From her first moments in the class, Taylor had made sure that her teacher was aware of
her sterling qualities. During story time, she announced, “I’M sitting quietly�
and when they began their writing practice she proclaimed, “MY pencil is sharp and Iâ
€™M ready to start.â€� Taylor never disobeyed and never broke the rules and she never
let her teacher forget it! When the other children were slow to respond to the teacherâ
€™s end-of-recess whistle, Taylor told her teacher, “Those kids just aren’t
listening, but I’M here!�
It wasn’t long before Taylor progressed from announcing her own virtues to chiding the
other children for their disorderly and downright disobedient ways. As might be imagined,
Taylor’s virtue was legendary, but she was far from popular with her peers. From
preschool through Kindergarten, Taylor had basked in the praise of her teachers. She
wasn’t just a good girl, she was the best. However, this new teacher was very puzzling
to Taylor. She didn’t seem to be properly impressed with Taylor’s exemplary
behavior and dazzling academic skills!
Taylor’s confusion was extreme when the teacher chose one of the unruly boys to help
her with the classroom pet. And when the teacher chose a struggling reader to draw a
picture for a group project, instead of asking Taylor, she was sure the teacher had made a
mistake. But when the teacher asked Taylor to refrain from “helping� the other
children by constantly reminding them of the rules, Taylor felt betrayed. Wasn’t she
the perfect person to help her classmates? Who knew the rules better than she?
Not many days after the teacher had stood regarding her class, a teary and bewildered
Taylor lingered in the classroom at lunchtime. Progressing from sniffles to sobs, she
beseeched the surprised teacher, “What did I do wrong? Why don’t you like me?â
€� The teacher gently wrapped the gulping, crying child in her arms and reassured her
that she indeed loved her very much. When the tears had slowed, Taylor’s teacher
explained that all her students were precious to her, every one. “Even Jake?�
asked a wondering Taylor. “Yes, even Jake,� assured the teacher. Taylor’s
teacher went on to explain that some children needed her time more than others, and
those who needed her most tended to be the students least likely to measure up to Taylorâ
€™s standards. When Taylor blurted out, “But that’s not fair!â€� her teacher
corrected her, saying, “Taylor, it’s not about being fair and it’s not about whoâ
€™s good and who’s bad, it’s about who is most in need of teaching.â€�
Our heavenly Father’s love is given not because we have remembered the rules,
never missed a Sunday service or because we are generous givers. We are loved and
forgiven by no merit of our own, but through grace alone. We can’t earn our way into
God’s good graces by virtue of our own good deeds or by demanding that others
behave in what we consider an appropriate fashion. Sinful and wayward, our need is
extreme and our Father lovingly corrects us, directs us and teaches us through his holy
Word. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate Teacher, a teacher who loved us so
much that he suffered and died on the cross to redeem us. Our Lord dined with sinners
and spent time with outcasts because they needed him. As we seek to follow in His
footsteps, may we give due attention and praise to the Taylors in our lives, but dedicate
our time and our hearts to those who need us the most.
© 2008 Elizabeth Williams
teaching and as she fondly gazed at her new class of First Graders, she considered their
various personalities. There was the predictable central core of average students from
average homes with delightful, but average behavior. There was the select group of â
€œstar studentsâ€� who were already ear-marked for success and beginning to become
aware of their above-average talents. And there were a few strugglers who were capable
of success, but who were faced with challenges. In short, the class had its usual
compliment of serious types and clowns, those eager to please and the self-motivated, the
compliant and the unruly. But this year she had a very challenging type to cope with: she
had a First Grade Pharisee.
From her first moments in the class, Taylor had made sure that her teacher was aware of
her sterling qualities. During story time, she announced, “I’M sitting quietly�
and when they began their writing practice she proclaimed, “MY pencil is sharp and Iâ
€™M ready to start.â€� Taylor never disobeyed and never broke the rules and she never
let her teacher forget it! When the other children were slow to respond to the teacherâ
€™s end-of-recess whistle, Taylor told her teacher, “Those kids just aren’t
listening, but I’M here!�
It wasn’t long before Taylor progressed from announcing her own virtues to chiding the
other children for their disorderly and downright disobedient ways. As might be imagined,
Taylor’s virtue was legendary, but she was far from popular with her peers. From
preschool through Kindergarten, Taylor had basked in the praise of her teachers. She
wasn’t just a good girl, she was the best. However, this new teacher was very puzzling
to Taylor. She didn’t seem to be properly impressed with Taylor’s exemplary
behavior and dazzling academic skills!
Taylor’s confusion was extreme when the teacher chose one of the unruly boys to help
her with the classroom pet. And when the teacher chose a struggling reader to draw a
picture for a group project, instead of asking Taylor, she was sure the teacher had made a
mistake. But when the teacher asked Taylor to refrain from “helping� the other
children by constantly reminding them of the rules, Taylor felt betrayed. Wasn’t she
the perfect person to help her classmates? Who knew the rules better than she?
Not many days after the teacher had stood regarding her class, a teary and bewildered
Taylor lingered in the classroom at lunchtime. Progressing from sniffles to sobs, she
beseeched the surprised teacher, “What did I do wrong? Why don’t you like me?â
€� The teacher gently wrapped the gulping, crying child in her arms and reassured her
that she indeed loved her very much. When the tears had slowed, Taylor’s teacher
explained that all her students were precious to her, every one. “Even Jake?�
asked a wondering Taylor. “Yes, even Jake,� assured the teacher. Taylor’s
teacher went on to explain that some children needed her time more than others, and
those who needed her most tended to be the students least likely to measure up to Taylorâ
€™s standards. When Taylor blurted out, “But that’s not fair!â€� her teacher
corrected her, saying, “Taylor, it’s not about being fair and it’s not about whoâ
€™s good and who’s bad, it’s about who is most in need of teaching.â€�
Our heavenly Father’s love is given not because we have remembered the rules,
never missed a Sunday service or because we are generous givers. We are loved and
forgiven by no merit of our own, but through grace alone. We can’t earn our way into
God’s good graces by virtue of our own good deeds or by demanding that others
behave in what we consider an appropriate fashion. Sinful and wayward, our need is
extreme and our Father lovingly corrects us, directs us and teaches us through his holy
Word. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate Teacher, a teacher who loved us so
much that he suffered and died on the cross to redeem us. Our Lord dined with sinners
and spent time with outcasts because they needed him. As we seek to follow in His
footsteps, may we give due attention and praise to the Taylors in our lives, but dedicate
our time and our hearts to those who need us the most.
© 2008 Elizabeth Williams
Tale of a First Grade Pharisee
43"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most
important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the
marketplaces.� Luke 11:43 (NIV)
30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who
belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do
you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31Jesus
answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but
the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance." Luke 5:30-32 (NIV)
43"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most
important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the
marketplaces.� Luke 11:43 (NIV)
30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who
belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do
you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31Jesus
answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but
the sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance." Luke 5:30-32 (NIV)
