I Wish My ________ Knew!

A third-grade teacher at a Denver elementary school decided to try to get to know her students better—most of whom come from low-income families—and gave them a writing assignment in which she hoped they would reveal something about themselves. Kyle Schwartz called the activity, “I wish my teacher knew”—and she wound up learning more than she thought.

“Ninety-two percent of our students quality for free and reduced lunch. As a new teacher, I struggled to understand the reality of my student’s lives and how to best support them. I just felt like there was something I didn’t know about my students.”

Here are a few of the responses—“I wish my teacher knew, I don’t have a friend to play with me”—“I wish my teacher knew how much I miss my dad, because he got deported back to Mexico when I was 3 years old and I haven’t seen him in 6 years.”—“ I wish my teacher knew sometimes my reading log is not signed because my mom is not around a lot.”

As I listened to the video and read the responses it made me think about my sisters-in-Christ. (Not the children we can look at and see they are children, but the adults who are little children spiritually.)

Being in the ministry of helping women and children in crisis, I’ve heard many secrets. And it has taught me that everyone has a story—but we in the Body don't always think about that when it comes to others.

There are underline reasons people are negative, unkind and have personality traits that are off putting.  But how often do we take the time to really look before we respond or judge?

Not being judgmental is something we have to really work at because it does not come naturally.

You see a sister who has been a part of your church congregation for the past 8 years, and in that time you have seen little growth in her. As time passes it’s hard not to make a judgment call on her, after all she has been there for 8 years! But what if she wrote one day, “I wish my sisters-in-Christ knew, that my husband abuses me and I live in terror.” What would you think then? Would you still shake your head in dismay at her or would you want to help her be safe?

What about the sister who has 5 kids, by 5 different men? Suppose she wrote, “I wish my sisters knew that I was taught that sex meant love at age 12 when my brother and his friends started having sex with me.” Would you still think she is a slut or would you want to help her to be healed, and to know who she is in Christ Jesus so that her children could grow up and be free?

“I wish my sisters knew, I grew up hungry all the time and that is why I am 80 lbs overweight.” “I wish my sisters knew I was raped by my father and forced to have an abortion when I was impregnated by him.” I wish my sisters knew that my childhood was hell because my mother was an alcoholic.” “I wish my sisters knew I grew up in the midst of mental illness.” “I wish my sisters knew I can barely read.”

“I wish my sisters knew that I grew up mostly homeless and living in the streets” “I wish my sisters knew I struggle with unnatural affections toward other women.” “I wish my sisters knew I hear voices telling me to kill myself.” “I wish my sisters knew my husband beat me last night.” “I wish my sisters knew my husband berates me daily and spits in my face.” “I wish my sisters knew that I have Aids.” “I wish my sisters knew I am so depressed most days I just want to die.” “I wish my sisters knew I don’t really know who Jesus is.” “I wish my sisters knew that I don’t know how to trust a God who let so many bad things happen to me.”

I wish my sisters knew…..

Makeup, nice clothes, shoes and a beautiful hairdo are only the jacket cover of the book, what is going on in the inside can be the story of a broken and hurt little child who has found it difficult to trust and grow in the Lord. So, what can we do about this?

Pray.

When we begin to see certain underline characteristics in our sisters, we should pray for them.

I have a spiritual sister in my life that is always negative, and complaining…never seeing any good in life, yet she says she is a Believer. I had become frustrated with her, because there seems to be no growth and she wears me out with her “woe is me” and never seems to adhere to any godly wisdom or encouragement I offer. But then I was reminded that I was moving into judgment and not praying for her and the strongholds that have rule in her life.

It is so easy to label, form an opinion or judge one another, but love demands that we not do that.

If you have someone in your life who you feel like giving up on, or have moved from compassion to frustration—(click) I Corinthians 13:4-8a as a reminder of how to handle the situation.

It is not that prayer itself changes things (all religions pray—even Muslim extremist) it is the One that we pray too, (God, creator of everything) that makes the changes in the hearts and minds of people. He is the One.

If you could write anonymously “I wish my ______ knew” what would it be? Would it help them to see you in a more compassionate light?

God puts people in our path so we can pray for them—not judge—not condemn—but pray.

Therefore, if you have a sister in your life that you have judged, ask God’s forgiveness and begin to diligently pray for her…and yourself too. Amen!

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie