He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a
city that is broken down, and without walls.
Proverbs, Chapter 25, verse 28.
I would get kids through
the years, which had a “reputation” for not being in control of their behavior
choices. I think they had been “out of
control” for so many years that they thought they’d always be this way and so
did some of their families.
After developing a bond
with these students, they were more open to following the classroom rules and
guidelines. I tried to help them see the
improvements they were making to be more “in control” of their actions and
choices. At first, they were reluctant
to believe that they were capable of this, trying to revert back to old,
comfortable ways. After time and
continued support to “be the best they could be,” they eventually started
noticing that they were making more and more good choices and were thinking
about the consequences of their poor choices more than they ever had.
It was exciting to see
these same children leave my class at the end of the year, taking pride in
their ability to be “in control” of their lives and choices. They were better able to bounce back when
things didn’t go the way they wanted.
They left with confidence, which is a distinct contrast from the student
who had that reputation of “being out of control.”
What a difference
consistent parameters make in their lives.
Ideally, all families would provide their children with consistent,
appropriate rules, not changing them at whim.
This would help their children grow up learning to feel “in control” of
their actions rather than becoming someone without rule over his own spirit.
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie
