Teachers Never Stop Teaching

 Mom taught school for many years, but not until I was a teenager.    

She was only 17 when she married Dad.  I was born a year later.  Fast forward to 1974 and two more children later - she decided to go back to college.  At that time, the local community college had busses to pick up students and bring them to college.  She rode that bus three days a week for two years.  She was in her thirties and riding a school bus - well, a college bus.

When she transferred to Ole Miss, they didn’t have busses.  Mom usually drove herself, but occasionally, she car pooled.   Three years later, with three kids and a husband working nights so he could go to preaching school during the day, Mom graduated.

I remember her graduation like it was yesterday!  It was the summer before my senior year of high school.  Dad bought Mom a cake and when we got home from her graduation we celebrated her!  It was a very good day in the Wigginton household.  She began teaching as soon as school started that fall.

Mother was dedicated to her profession.  She cared about her students and always wanted to do the best she could for them.  Mom had a strong desire to help them learn.  She was a huge encouragement to her students. 

I say all that to say, she saw two of her former students yesterday.  They spoke to her and you should have seen her glow!  It gave her so much joy to see these former students. 

Mom thanked both of them for speaking to her.  The man who was her student hugged her when he said goodbye – and his young son (who had never met her) did too! 

In that moment, I realized Mom touched many lives. And she still does today.  She still encourages them and she still shows her love for them when they see her.  I had been with her when she met former students before, but today was different.  I saw her interactions in a different light.  I respected her more.  I loved her more.

Two things I learned from Mom.  The first thing is we can do almost anything if we are determined enough to do it.

The second thing is that we all interact with people every day.  We don’t have to be school teachers to encourage and show love to others.  We can have an impact on the people around us.  Every day when we wake up, we have a new set of opportunities to make a wonderful difference in this world. 

We can be cheerful and encouraging when we meet old friends or acquaintances – or even strangers! We can be the difference between a bad day and a good day. 

When we see others through the eyes of Jesus, it changes our whole perspective.  This really is what we are supposed to do. 

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ (Matthew 25:40).

Christ above all things – Robin

The Class Officer

Living right next door to my parents has always been a blessing to me.  I wouldn’t change it for the world!  Of course, the added benefit is that I always got to see my brothers and their families when they came to visit Mom and Dad – especially around the holidays. 

On one such occasion when everyone was “home” I had a great conversation with my youngest nephew, Will.  I think he was in fourth grade at the time.  He had been elected as an officer in his class. 

He talked about his campaign and the new ideas he wanted to put into practice for the students.  Will is a smart guy, and I loved hearing him talk about his election.  I could tell he had put a lot of thought into his campaign. 

Will was not bragging about himself.  I had to pull just about everything out of him.  I was careful to ask questions that required more than a yes or no answer. I wanted to hear what he had to say regarding the whole process. 

This was not something Will was doing just for the fun of it.  He wanted to be a good officer and represent his class well. 

His mother sat across the room listening to us talk.  I saw her smile occasionally.  She seemed pleased that Will took it all so seriously. 

I think we would all be so much better off if we took the role of being a Christian as seriously as Will took his duties as class officer.  Being a citizen in the kingdom of God is important.  Each of us has a job to do. 

As Paul wrote in Romans 12:4-5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

Note that Paul said we do not have the same function.  But we all have a function - a job to do.  It is different for each of us.  God’s work requires many people working together. 

One member may be an observer who notices when someone needs extra encouragement.  Others may have a great gift with young children.  Some are talented in helping the elderly and sick in the nursing homes or hospitals. 

Let’s never underestimate our worth or the power of our influence.  As Paul said, we are all members one of another.  We should strive to represent our Savior well.

Just as Will understood the seriousness of taking on his duties as class officer, we should be serious about taking on the duties of serving Christ. 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Christ above all things - Robin

When Dad Was an Umpire

My youngest brother loved just about any kind of sports.  Through the years he played football, basketball, and baseball. 

Growing up our biggest fans were our parents.  They were there for anything we participated in.  We all have our own memories of those times. 

I may not have this memory exactly right because it isn't mine and I wasn't there.  But it is pretty close to what happened that day.  

John tells a story about one particular ballgame and oh, how I wish I had been there to see it!  It was a little league baseball game – an away game in another town.  Usually the umpires for these games were local volunteers.

As John tells it, the umpire at this game was partial to his home team.  I suppose that happens sometimes, but apparently in this game it was quite noticeable.  Several of the parents voiced their displeasure over the bad calls. 

Mom and Dad were there.  Usually Dad was pretty quiet, but he doesn’t like things to be unfair either.  Our parents always taught us to stand up for what we believe in. 

When the local umpire made one particularly bad call, Dad spoke up and said something like “Come on, Ump.”   

The umpire took off his mask, turned around and looked at Dad.  Imagine being 11 or 12, hearing your Dad’s voice in the crowd and then seeing the umpire stop the game! 

The man looked at Dad and said, “If you think you can do better, then come on down here.”  John was shocked.  He was even more shocked when Dad came out of the bleachers to call the rest of the game! 

All the other guys on John’s team said things like “Wow, your Dad is going to be the umpire!”  John didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or proud, but I don’t think he will ever forget that day.

There may come a time in our lives when we have to step up and say “This is not right!”  It may be that we are the only ones who are brave enough to stand up.  It could be a situation of our children being taken advantage of. 

It could be a situation at work where something is wrong– like bullying, or someone taking credit for another person’s work, or stealing.  Will we look the other way and hope they don’t do it again, or will we speak up then and there? 

One day, we may even have to speak up for Christ.  We must always be ready for our spiritual battles. 

Doing the right thing is not always easy.  It takes a lot of courage to speak out against evil.  The song “Stand Up for Jesus” comes to mind – so does “Soldiers of Christ, Arise.” 

We are never alone when we take a stand against evil.  God is always there with us.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13 NIV).

Christ above all things - Robin