Dare 7: Love Believes the Best
It can be very easy to become discouraged by our students' "failures." At points it may be hard to remember that inside our students is something good. Maybe its the desire to learn, or maybe the ability to be kind, or the desire to be good.
We can create excuses for them or possibly give up on them. And in the process we add to what the Love Dare refers to as the "Depreciation Room." It is full of weaknesses and failures of students. It can house very hateful thoughts or feelings toward students and make a teacher ready to fire when that student "fails" again.
Luckily, there is also an "Appreciation Room." This is where we keep all of the successes of our students. All things true and good about our students... ALL of our students, not just the ones who are easy to appreciate.
The items in both rooms may be true for the student, but it is important to focus on the Appreciation Room. Love lives in the Appreciation Room. Love chooses to believe the best in people. To give them the benefit of the doubt. And when our students fail us, love chooses to move forward to agree to focus on the good.
"It is time to let love lead your thoughts and your focus. The only reason you should glance in the door of the Depreciation Room is to know how to pray for your [students]. And the only reason you should ever go in this room is to write "COVERED IN LOVE" in huge letters across the walls."
It is SO important to develop the habit of throwing away your negative thoughts and focusing only on the positive ones. I know that in the process of the day, this can feel very difficult. I've experienced some very, very unlovable kids... and I know I definitely haven't always done my best in my attempts to love them. But they still deserve love.
This Week's Dare
For this week's dare, get two sheets of paper. It would be great if you could do this dare for each of your students, but I realize that is not always possible. So, if it isn't possible in your world, choose a few of the hardest to love students. On the first sheet of paper, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about the student. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret (and secure!) place for another day. There's a different purpose and plan for each. At some point throughout the remainder of the week, pick one positive attribute and thank your students for having this characteristic.
I hope you all are doing well. Praying for you and hoping your week goes smoothly.
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