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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
TITLE: The Finale
By Elizabeth J Mills
07/14/04
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One day in chatting with the administrator at the Christian school my children attended, she asked me to consider teaching there. She wanted me to become the choir director for their elementary students.

My first thought was “no way!” Me, become a teacher? I have a hard enough time being a mom to my four children. How in the world could I succeed at leading seventy-six other children? I told her I didn’t think I could do it. She looked at me and told me she knew I could. No flicker of doubt crossed her face as I looked at her and considered what she had said. She instilled such confidence in me that, when coupled with the peace I had in seeking God about this, I decided to go for it.

I laid out my lesson plans, choosing specific themes for each month. The first month I chose “Saved in September.” Scripture verses were chosen to go along with each theme. As I shared the Bible verses, it felt great when I could see the students grab ahold of these verses.

In addition to teaching, I learned that the school has two big musical programs, a Christmas program and an End-Of-School Year program. Part of my job would be to pick out and teach these programs to the students.

I had started teaching after Christmas the first year, so I focused on our End-Of-School Year program. I chose a patriotic program which was fairly simple to teach and put together.

The Christmas program the following school year was a much bigger task. Being more complex, it required lots of time and preparation. I began to teach the program songs in early October. In the first part of November, I researched the characters in the play. I let the kids know who the characters were and gave them the lines for the parts they were interested in.

As Thanksgiving pressed closer, I auditioned for the cast and soloists for the program. Between myself and the other choir teacher, we filled the parts.

Into the second week of December, we started rehearsing in the sanctuary where the program would be presented. I groaned in despair, learning many of the students still didn’t know their lines or the words to the songs. I asked for God’s help in making this work, not for my own glory, but for His.

In the midst of the stress in trying to teach the students, the staff came and helped with the other details of the program. A preschool teacher made the scenery and props for the program. The administrator helped with the costumes.

On the night of the program, two of the teachers made sure the students were in the right place at the right time. One teacher led the tambourine players in a Jewish-style song, another led the dancers.

In the meantime, our choir teacher for the mid high students led the student choir while I cued the drama cast in their lines and places. I stood amazed at how well everything flowed between us. Each person involved in bringing this together, created an outstanding success.

During rehearsals the students had misbehaved, driving myself and the other teachers crazy. However, for the program they performed flawlessly. My heart burst with joy and my eyes clouded as I led them in their bows at the finale. The place erupted in applause and in a standing ovation, our reward for such a magnificent performance.

The day after the program, the students had their Christmas parties. I went to each classroom, showering them with praise. Their brilliant, smiling faces and generous hugs filled my heart even more.

I have since moved on from teaching. The stresses of teaching are too much for this forty-something woman. I have come far enough in life to know when to call it quits.

Driving home one day, I told God I felt like I had failed Him. He told me I had failed many times while teaching, but that He hadn’t. Seed was planted. He would nurture that seed, bringing the increase in these young lives whom I was privileged to influence for this season.

Instead of leaving this job feeling like a failure, I left knowing that, in Christ’s strength, I did something right and even good. On the day when I stand before Him, I will joyfully lay this crown at His feet as a gift of praise and honor to Him.

By Elizabeth J. Mills © 2004