Learning from Children

Sometimes I learn more about God from my 4th graders than I do from my own reasoning. I've been thinking about the concept of repentance for a few months now, but this was a new thought:

One of my students, probably the sweetest girl alive, said something that broke my heart. I like to have a very sarcastic relationship with my students, goofy and silly. This student was copying something from the board and I was standing in front of her helping another student. She then said to me, "Mrs. Gatliff, I can't see, you need to move." I gave her a look then a smile and said, "Well, soooorrrryy!" A few minutes later she got out of her seat and approached me and said, "I'm sorry Mrs. Gatliff, that was rude of me to say that to you." Needless to say I was dumbfounded. I kindly told her, "It's more than alright sweetie".

This sweet child, who would never in her life be rude or unkind to anyone just repented to her teacher for a comment she thought could have made me upset with her. Repentance is such a bizarre thing. I think there are many purposes for repentance...

1. The most important purpose is to repent to God for our sins as we are called to do to work out our salvation in obedience.
2. The next one is to repent to the ones that we sin against because we actually have had sinful thoughts or actions that could interfere with the relationship or doesn't lead them closer to the Lord.
3. The third (I'm sure there are others) is to repent to ones that we could have accidentally sinned against to demonstrate the personality of Christ, even if that person doesn't see it as sin.

This child was afraid that she was being disrespectful, I didn't see it that way at all. I generally have this sarcastic way of talking to my students and they throw it back at me and I smile. She shocked me and showed me such humility.

When a person doesn't expect a repentance it demonstrates the pure love and understanding of the sin that separates us from Christ and each other. It can catch us off guard and warm our hearts to those doing the repenting.

When in doubt, repent. Take away the pride, the arrogance, or the need for justice... no bad can ever come from a warm, from the heart appology. In the end the relationship will be restored.