Beautiful

It was several years ago that I crossed paths with a guy that was an elementary teacher. Second grade if I remember correctly. I thought it strange at the time. Never thought that I would work in an elementary school. I had taught everything from seventh grade to seniors at the time, all kinds of content areas. I’ve done math, pe, Bible, even a science class or two. But never elementary school. It wasn’t on my radar. 

In the conversation, I asked him, “What’s it  like? How do you do it?” At face value it seemed like they just didn’t quite have enough independence for me. That’s probably still true. If you enjoy laughing and know my wife, ask her about the first time I kept Ty by myself when he was a baby. Her story will confirm...I am better with more independent children. 

But for some reason, probably from God, his answer to that question has stuck with me for all these years...more than a decade. It was really simple, but pretty profound. “Tell the girls everything they do is beautiful. And the boys...just tell them, ‘you are the man.’” 

Two years into my first experience working in an elementary school, and in many ways, I have learned he was exactly right. When I walk the halls, the girls want hugs and the boys, they want high fives and fist bumps. And that hug makes those girls feel loved. It makes them feel beautiful. The high fives make the boys feel confident, respected, part of the club. It makes them feel like the man. 

And once again Scripture proves timeless. Women need to be loved. Men, need to be respected. Ephesians 5:33. Paul references it as the key to a happy marriage. And...it lives in us when we are four and five years old. Isn’t that amazing? The wisdom of Scripture can’t be put into words. 

Every morning there are these two little kindergarten students that see me in the hallway. He wants a fist bump. She wants a hug. They both plead with me to come to my office and draw pictures. My answer is always the same, “If you have a good day and it’s okay with Mrs. Travis, you can come this afternoon.” And when they come, they talk a thousand miles an hour while drawing as fast as they talk. And when they finish, it never fails...she wants to know one thing, “Is it pretty?” And he wants to know one thing, “Whose is better?” 

And I follow the advice that was given to me over a decade ago. The advice I never thought I would need. That God somehow tucked away in my heart anyway. The advice of the Holy Spirit. And I answer her, “It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Her face glows. And I answer him, “That is awesome. You are the man! I had no idea you could draw so good!” And he’s happy. So happy, in fact, he forgets his question. He got what he was seeking. 

But then there is this other little five year-old girl who brought me a picture that she couldn’t wait to give me. It was drawn at daycare. But it had another girl’s name on it. Pretending not to notice the name and the fact that it was clearly not drawn by a five year old, I asked her, “Did you draw me this?” She said, “I drawed one but it was bad.” She dropped her head. It’s amazing something can weigh like that at five. 

I drop down to a knee and get myself below her eye level. I put my arm around her and say, “I wish I could have seen it. I bet it wasn’t bad at all. I bet it was beautiful.” She looks up, smiles that huge grin, hugs me like it’s the last time she will ever see me, and turns to go down the hallway. She takes a few steps, stops, turns around and says, “I love you, Mr. Walker.” 

“I love you too...have a great day.” 

It was exactly what she needed to hear. It changed her tune. It gave life to her spirit. It made all the wrong in her world right. It was life-changing. It was beautiful. 

Life is hard. It’s good, but it’s hard. There are lots of ways that I fail every day. We all have problems. We all have struggles. We all have shortcomings. We all have burdens to bear. But to know that you can alter the course of someone’s today with such simple words really is beautiful. It really is from God. 

And if there is nobody to tell you today, there really is only One that matters. And no matter what, when, where, or how...ladies, He thinks you are beautiful. He made you that way. And guys...He thinks you are the man. He uniquely created you to be. And only you can be exactly what He had in mind when He created you. 

And, regardless of what anyone else thinks or says, that is beautiful.