“With God’s mighty power working in us, we can do infinitely
more than we even dreamed." ~ Ephesians 3:20
Deloris feared this day would come
– the day she’d be asked not to return.
Volunteers couldn’t really be fired, just gently told that her style was
no longer “in line” with that of the school’s.
As she approached the office she wondered which of the children had
complained that’s she’d been too mean, expected too much or not given them
enough praise.
“Grandma Dee,” was ‘old school.’ She’d been volunteering for 17 years at local
schools in Nevada helping children learn to read. In addition to helping students learn, she’s
also been a role model and grandparent figure.
Her ‘tough love’ methods left some parents outraged. Administrators felt pressure to remove her
despite remarkable results. Accountability,
she believed, sharpened their minds. Academic
development required a realistic (and therefore tough) assessment of their
shortcomings.
Slacking wasn’t tolerated.
Forgetting homework meant extra work. Lack of respect met a look that could melt
ceramic. She was never physical of
course, but Dee had zero tolerance for the unprepared. Excellence came from hard work.
Over the years, this passionate 75-year-old woman watched
proudly as her students grew up into young men and women right before her
eyes. She’d seen them go onto great
things.
But today all that may come to an end as she cautiously
entered the Principal’s office.
To Dee’s surprise, a smartly dressed woman stood there
holding a dozen roses. Her face was made
up, but not overdone and her long brown hair was pulled back into a pony-tail.
“These are for you,” she said.
That young woman, Tori Chavez, had once been her student. She’d endured a life of almost unimaginable
tragedy growing up in countless foster homes. Negative influences in her life far outweighed
the good.
“You pushed me to dream bigger and achieve more than I ever
imagined,” Tori continued. “I’m running
for the State Senate now.”
“You taught me that REAL love is not always pink and fluffy.
It isn’t holding hands while running
through sunflower fields while wearing pretty dresses and eating chocolates. It’s just not!”
“REAL love is tough as nails. It’s often tarnished, scuffed and a little
jagged. Real love is losing your temper
seven times and apologizing eight times. Real love is feeling overwhelmed and exhausted
at the end of the day. It’s giving all
you’ve got yet ready to give even more tomorrow.”
Their reunion inspired Grandma Dee to continue her life’s
mission with renewed passion. You see, studies
show that students flourish best when constantly under a moderate amount of
stress. Overpraising kids actually makes
them less confident and less motivated.
Maybe we need a little more ‘old school’ at home and in the classroom.
Father, You gave me the ability to dream, to
create, to imagine. Never let an impossible
situation intimidate me. Let it help me
believe more, experience more, learn more and trust You more. Help me understand Your dream for my life. Amen
