The Truth Will Set You Free

I’m a public school kid.  I went to public school as a child from Kindergarten to 12th grade.  When I graduated with my degree in Elementary and Early Childhood education, I taught kindergarten in a public school.  I believe in the inherent right of all children to have access to a free and public education.  So why did I choose to teach at Eastern Christian School?  One reason stands out above all the rest:  Jesus.

As a young child, I went to Sunday School every Sunday and attended midweek programs like Pioneer Girls where I came to a  saving knowledge of Christ when I was just five years old.  Unfortunately, I learned that it was frowned upon to speak of my faith in my elementary school, and it was considered just plain weird when I was in high school.  So I learned to compartmentalize my love for God.  He had no place in my day to day life at school.  It felt like I was wearing this disguise of normalcy while inside my soul cried out to share this incredible love with everyone around me.  I felt torn between who the world wanted me to be, and who God wanted me to be.

As I grew into adulthood, my faith became stronger as I began to care less and less what others around me thought.  I knew who my God was, and I knew His Word promised me “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28.)  As I ventured into my profession in public elementary education, I was expected to teach children how to behave without being allowed to profess where morality and love come from.  I told children how special they were without being able to tell them the real reasons why.  I held onto the truth that they were created by a loving God who made them in His image like it was a deep dark secret.  I was lying.  Everyday, I was lying—or at the least, telling half-truths.  When I resigned from my position in public school to raise my family, I felt God pulling me into ministry.  I followed God’s leading to start numerous children’s ministry programs at my church and participate in community outreach events that taught children the truth about God and his love.  I finally found myself in the place God had always called me to be—a proclaimer of the gospel.

As I laid my own children down to sleep each night, I prayed for them.  I prayed that God would grow their faith and that their saving knowledge of Christ would come from a genuine work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.  My husband and I needed a village of people who would love them as Christ loves them and teach them the whole truth of God’s Word.  I knew our family needed Christian Education. 

God’s sovereign providence touched down in our lives and He opened every door for me to teach at Eastern Christian Elementary School.  This public school gal felt like she finally found a school family who had been waiting for her all along.  Each day, I get to walk in the front doors of our school, with my daughters in each hand, and proclaim the truth and love of God to my first graders.  I try to set a Godly example, love my students like Jesus, and tell them how much God truly cherishes them.  We obey because God loves us.  We are special because God loves us.  Now we “know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).