Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
Today? It is a furlough day for the district I work with, a day of sacrifice for the whole. Negotiations continue for the calendar days next school year. More sacrifice is needed, the budget is short. Teachers hold pink slips, counselors and nurses are losing their jobs, and student's choices to further their educational development in a broad spectrum which should include the arts, technology and tactical skills are sadly dwindling. Five furlough days this year, ten--twelve next year? When will our sacrifice make a difference?
God took a furlough day. He walked up a lonely hill, laid down his body on a rugged cross, and hung and bled out until his chest could lift no more. Furlough Friday, a sacrifice for all mankind. On Glorious Easter Sunday, a new budget was approved, and He arose from the dead, to receive those who believed. His sacrifice makes a difference in the red ink of sin in our hearts. His furlough day unites those who partake in remembering, a communion of hearts in union.
Each day we walk with our Superintendent of Sanctification, our Principal of Promise, and He rewards us with increasing grace and power in our paychecks of blessings. We all have an important part in our own district of influence. Whether are servant hands bring food to the hungry at noontime, or we help keep the campus of our lives clean with mercy brooms, mow the grass and trim the branches with blades of truth, or we answer the calls to pray, counsel the youth towards correct pathways of righteousness, or administer and oversee His children in love and purpose, God rewards us in our sacrifice. In I Timothy 5:17 it states: Those who teach hold a special responsibility.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
James 3:1 reminds us that teachers again, are special:
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
I love my job. I work with wonderful people, I get to exercise my gifts and God rewards me in other ways in addition to my paycheck. I will gladly take this furlough day and hope it saves a job. I am glad that Christ's furlough day, saved my life.
Lord, today I pray for my school district, for teachers and custodians, for maintenance people and counselors, for nurses and aides. I pray for our students, our curriculum, our principals and district personnel. I pray for Godly wisdom, and a school board who seeks direction from humble prayer. I am grateful for the people I have met in my job who encourage me daily and I pray I can continue to make a difference on campus. Amen.
I wish I understood more about these furlough days. A forced day off without pay no doubt hurts the pocketbook. I guess it is better than a reduction in wages, but if school instruction also takes furlough then what have we really gained? We still have a minimum number of official hours and days of instruction right?
ReplyDeleteThank you Coleene for helping us all see this issue, through the lense of humility and service.