Today is my baby sister’s birthday.  Sounds funny to say this because the “baby” sis is in her 60’s.  However, in a family, if you’re the baby, you will always have that role no matter what age you are.  Happy birthday Polly!

Yesterday afternoon I picked up hearing aids I’d had fitted a couple weeks ago.  I wore them until bedtime last night and have them in now again.  I was going to make a joke about hearing God much more clearly now that I can hear all those higher pitched sounds that made hearing younger voices difficult.  However, this morning I had a different message from hearing God He is wanting me to learn.  I’m reading the book of John in my Bible.  John is often referred to as the Gospel about Love.  It is here that Christ makes it clear to His disciples that loving is serving.  Jesus modeled this well by not only being their teacher, but even washing their feet, serving them food, as well as astounding them with wisdom and teaching.  As I was reading this morning I was nudged by God’s voice to pay particular attention to this message.

I’ve been working with two schools in a neighboring school district piloting a process the State Dept. of Ed wants to enact fully next school year.  This process is to help schools better meet student learning needs by building a climate for learning, using instructional practices that support student learning, and using curriculum that benefits students to know what the working world they will enter needs them to know.  There is more to this, but this is a healthy chunk of it.  This project got started late  this fall due to some circumstances so I need to make every minute count when I’m with the schools and their district office.  This morning God reminded me that no work is as important as helping people know they are valued and loved.  This is a critical piece to learning about Jesus Christ.  It is so much easier to be surrendered fully to God when one realizes just how much He loves us and will never lead us astray.  This morning God was pointing out to me that my best bang for the buck will come from me taking the time to let the schools know I am there to serve them and model ways which will help them serve the children coming to them.  These biblical principles are as critical today as they were when Christ first modeled them to the disciples a couple thousand years ago.

So, my hearing assignment is not a joke.  God is wanting me to hear and respond to His nudges about building a trusting relationship with these folks supporting them lovingly, yet providing Godly wisdom.  OK, I’m going to work on being a mighty good listener and responder.