Words for Life

"We will walk the path of Jesus."

These are the words I hear little voices sing when we are playing a game resembling checkers on our stone tables with rocks, or when we bounce the basketball around the circle, or in chapel on Friday afternoon. The most unlikely voices sing these words and it's music for our souls. They sing the words proudly and joyfully, somehow knowing that its the way to live life.

As a school we've been memorizing Genesis 1:1 in both languages. During this same chapel time some students got a chance to recite their verses on their own for the first time. Sitting up straight just hoping to be called on, they were so proud to show what they could do. One of my boys was sitting up so straight his gaze fixed on the front of the room. He's one of my little guys who hasn't yet answered a question on his own correctly in English. He just hasn't yet figured out what is happening. As he was leaving school yesterday piled in the bed of his dad's truck with a bunch of other kids he widly waved at me and yelled out, "Good Morning!" His soft heart always goes out to the hurting and he is such a good encourager. This week I was having a conference with one of my newest students who has given up. I think he already feels so behind that he doesn't make any effort to learn. After Khruu Ooy and I talked with him about him needing to try this other boy walked by the doorway. He wanted to know why his friend was crying. When Khruu Ooy told him, he told his buddy "Oh, its okay. I don't understand anything she says either! I'll help you!" He put his arm around his friend and spoke words of encouragement as they walked away down the hallway.

Back to chapel time - I caught his eye and did the teacher/student communication thing (the signal across languages that means "Are you wanting to be called on or are you secretly dreading it with all your heart?" He gave me a huge smile and nod letting me know that he indeed want to be called on. I was afraid if called on he would be embarrassed in front of the whole school if he couldn't recite the whole verse in both languages. Sure that he did indeed want a shot I told Miss Brittany to choose him. He started off in Thai reciting without a problem and when he went to answer in English he started speaking Thai again. Amidst the giggles from the other children he started again in English and said the whole verse without a problem.

I was so proud, when I realized the first words he has spoken on his own in English are not his words at all. If all my children ever speak in English are God's words that will be more than enough.

Trapped by Words

I read a blog recently by a really neat lady about words. The power of words, the necessity of words, the importance of making our words ones that strengthen those who hear.



That haunts me.



Why? Because I live in a country without words. I go through my day with the ability to both give and receive very few words. The words I intake are usually hard earned and slightly misunderstood, same story with the words I give. If people understand my words it's because both of us are really making an effort to communicate.



How do you build relationships without words? How do you let people know you love them when you can't really listen and understand them and when you are not able to give words of comfort or encouragement? There are no words to describe the feeling of being trapped knowing that you cannot understand or be understood. The constant rumbling of words in your mind trying to find the right ones in the right tone to convey to the person what you would like to eat...forget about matters of real importance.



Talking about the absolute importance of building relationships with people in our community I feel so overwhelmed. I don't know how to do that without words...showing up is a good start...but it's not enough.



So, I'll keep trying to talk with the muu ping (pork on a stick) man in a field who asks where I'm going and tells me that he hasn't seen me before. I'll try to answer his questions in words he understands so that he knows I am making an effort to be friendly. And maybe... just maybe... someday they'll know. They'll know we came because our hearts ache for them, that our desire is that they know the same saving love of Christ we do, that we just want to walk through life with them on a journey to know our Savior more.

Friendship

Yesterday was a bit of a sad day for me. Sad for several reasons actually but all having to do with friendship. The feelings of sadness began to wash over me in the morning and just continued throughout the day. It was a quiet day at school, I just had four of my kids. During phonics as we were working through a sheet coloring only the pictures that began with the letter d, I noticed one of my little girls looked on the verge of tears. I gave the other girls instructions and took this particular little girl out in the hallway where I asked if she was okay and she proceeded to burst into sobs...not tears...sobs. She gasped out that one of the other little girls had taken her pink pencil, it shook her world. As I wiped her tears away and told her it would be okay, I saw myself in her. She was trying so hard to hold in her hurt and never had any intention of telling her friend about the hurt she had caused. After a little while, we walked back into our classroom where I gave some more instructions and then took the other little girl into the hallway. I proceeded to talk to her about the situation, after which she ran in and swapped pencils with my broken hearted girl. As I looked at them both sitting side by side not quite at peace with each other, wisdom from a dear friend came to me. I never really learned how to communicate with others effectively about feelings and hurts...it is something that only recently I've been learning because of this very loving friend. We've had some practice hurting each other, stewing while trying to hide the pain, then sitting down and talking through it, usually involving tears. The amazing thing is that after our conversations our friendship is so much stronger and we are able to keep moving on together. It would be quite unhealthy if we just stuffed our feelings down inside and weren't able to communicate them with each other.

Because of what I've been learning I tried to help my girls begin to learn how to communicate with each other after they had been hurt. It is just a beginning but hopefully they will learn how to lovingly and gently use unfortunately painful situations to strengthen and build their friendships instead of letting them be torn down.

The sadness came when thinking about these beautiful friendships and the truth that because of life circumstances and callings, friends who you depend on being near end up far away. To me, goodbyes are one of the most difficult things about life, and they break my heart.

The following song by Watermark fits perfectly with some some people I am so thankful to have in my life. Cherish friendships like these as long as the Lord sees fit to bless you with them.

"Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...

CHORUS:
'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah

You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be...

You have carried me
You have taken upon a burden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you
A hundredfold, oh yeah...
A hundredfold, oh yeah..."

"More Than You'll Ever Know" by Watermark