As I think back about meetings that I was a part of during my time as a school administrator, some make me cringe but others fill me with a great satisfaction. One day I witnessed trust. Someone trusted me unconditionally. Someone that looks different from me. Someone from a different background. During a most uncomfortable parent meeting about a struggling young boy, the grandmother was understandably agitated because she had the wrong information, or should I say, she was listening to the wrong voice. I had a long standing relationship with this dear grandmother because she was the custodian of my building when I was a principal.
When we first met our relationship wasn’t perfect. She did not immediately trust me. She quietly watched me. I didn’t share with her my philosophy. I didn’t give her all my credentials. She learned by observation. She now trusts me immensely. It was apparent during all of the chatter that she was hearing my voice. When the administrator wound up the meeting she said… “Ms. O…our goal (points to the teacher) is that we will have the same trust that you have with Mrs. H (me.) It was a tearful moment. Ms. O quickly said that she trusts me totally. She also threw in….”It was a long time coming!”
When the grandmother left the meeting she hugged me and said that she loved me. I have no doubt that she does. She also hugged the others in the meeting. She may not always trust the others like she trusts me but I know that she will give them a chance. Why? Because I trust them and she hears my voice.
What voice do we listen to? Who is the one that changes our mind, our thoughts or our actions? Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Listen to men? They will disappoint. Listen to God. He’s always on point.
Adopted Through Grace 