The letters lay in box—the folds showing evidence of students who had never written letters by hand, never inserted them in envelopes, and never used snail mail.
The day was a typical
one. During my planning period, I walked to the teacher's workroom to check my
mailbox, which is normally empty. This time, ruffled-looking sheets of paper
lay in my cubby. I noticed some in other teachers’ cubbies also. I pulled them
out and saw my name hand-scribbled on them. When I opened the top one, I saw a
handwritten note from a student. I quickly fumbled through the remaining ones
and saw they too were from students in the various grades of middle school. Not
having time to read them, I refolded them and hurried back to my room.
Later in the day when I
had free time, I reopened the letters. The elective teacher had asked her
students to write letters to teachers, telling them something nice. As I read,
some students expressed surprise that I had put up with them for three years,
but they appreciated it. One student remarked how awestruck she was that I had
taught three generations of her siblings. She showed me her appreciation of
English by taking a red pen and marking out a noticeable mistake. Another said
he looked forward to my class every day. Still another thanked me for being so
laid back and for not giving him lunch detention every time he deserved it. A
few said I was their favorite teacher. One commented on how much she had
learned and grown in my class.
What I hated in school
and at home—boundaries—these students seemed to appreciate. I’m sure they
appreciate the boundaries their parents place on them as well—although they
would never tell them. On most days, I think students hate me for being so hard
and for pushing them to the limits, but they are intelligent enough to know I
do so for their good.
Paul talked about the
boundary law when he used the example of agriculture. Whatever a farmer sows,
he will harvest. A farmer doesn’t plant corn and harvest soybeans. This is the
law of the boundaries.
I didn’t always
appreciate the boundaries my parents placed on me—most of which represented
God’s boundaries found in the Bible. But like my students, I knew they were beneficial.
Because of my sinful nature, I would have run wild had boundaries been absent.
Even with them, I often tested their confinement.
Just as I give much grace
to my students when they cross the boundaries, so God does with us. He’s not
sitting in heaven waiting for us to mess up so He can crush us. He establishes
the boundaries to keep us on paths that are for our good. When we cross them,
He gently guides us back inside the lines.
Boundaries teach us to
trust God, to determine right from wrong, to grow as an individual, to
establish our identity, to show love, and to prepare us for the future.
Learn to love the
boundaries God places around you, for we find true freedom within them.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the boundaries You
place on our lives.
Tweetable: Are you kicking against the boundaries?
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