The Girl Who Didn't Care
When I was studying foreign languages, I really didn't want to learn the expression "I don't care." I learned "it doesn't matter to me." Which can also simply mean, “that's okay.” But I really did not want to be an I don't care person. I do care. And I want to care about important things and difficult things. So, when a shorter, plump preteen girl came to class that January, I did care. Her dark hair and brown eyes set off her flat white complexion as she moved slowly to her seat. I noticed she didn't really look at the other children but I had the thought that they knew one another. I knew that she was able to learn and to do the lessons with instruction but she didn't seem very interested. Often, she did not make the effort or do the work. Although she was quiet, she drew the class attention away from their school work with her many interruptions.
She held the pencil quite loosely so her lettering was sloppy and the numbers were unreadable which led to lower grades in math and spelling. She didn't have work habits of order and neatness. She didn't even line up her numbers in order to correct answers in math. She did have a “why try” approach and the Lord showed me her low self-image. This girl did not feel special or cared for. It turns out there was a prior relationship with other students which seemed to influence her negative self-reflection.
I could tell that this young lady was operating well below her ability so I began to call on her for answers where I knew she could answer the question correctly. Wherever I had opportunity I built her up. I made all the positive comments I could and even remarked to the other students when she was doing well. I made positive comments about her in front of the class and particularly during active teaching.
She purposely interrupted the class and made distracting noises and comments. The Lord really put on my heart to ignore some of those attention-getting devices. I did correct her although not every time. I took her aside quietly to speak to her about her behavior. My task was to build her up and show her what she could achieve. It seemed very important to her that other students were corrected in the same manner as she for their infractions. She needed to see that we were just. Justice was a big thing.
Numerous times she arrived at school with her homework incomplete. Again, it didn't seem to matter to her. I met with this young lady and her parent to review our class policies, homework expectations and appropriate accommodation in the home for her to complete her studies in the evening. Her mother was most earnest to help her daughter and thankful to understand our policies and how to encourage her. Once she understood what was needed both she and the student determined to work hard toward the objective of meeting standards. She was very thankful for the help her daughter was getting and perceived the changes going on in the class as well.
The Lord changed everyone's heart including the social interaction between her and other students. They began to show respect toward her and observed how she was showing respect toward them. As she committed to the classroom standards of work and behavior everything smoothed out. Godly behavior of the other students, their prayers and their acceptance of her began a healing work.
I helped her with the mechanical issue of the pencil grip and she saw how being neat and orderly gave her the right answers. Her grades improved and her appearance improved! She became eager to be at school included with classmates and liked as an individual. She began to help others, did her work and her attendance improved.
The Lord blessed this young lady who came to school with many issues the enemy could have used to trip her up in the years ahead. The problems were layered and integrated. Yet the girl persevered, her fellow students assisted and the Lord prevailed. As the Word says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous the Lord delivers him out of them all."