A Clean Slate
— “Oh no, I have little Sara in my class this year. Isn’t that my luck … I have been hoping all summer I wouldn’t end up with her. She is awful. All Ms. Beth talked about last year was how terrible she was and how she just could not get along with her at all – and her parents were worse.”
— “Mom, I just got my schedule … You are not going to believe who some of my teachers are. Ms. Jones – they say she hates girls. Mr. Smith – I heard he only likes kids who play sports.”
— “Oh nice, I heard they just hired one of the Smith kids for the new position. He is the youngest of the three. You know what they say about the third child syndrome!I remember him running all around the church when he was younger … he is wild –they all are.”
How many of us, have passed judgement or formed an opinion of someone based on what we have HEARD? Before we ever have the opportunity to get to know someone, we start to form an opinion. Each year as school starts back and students have new teachers and teachers have new students, the concept of a Clean Slate always comes to my mind. How great would it be to have the things of the past wiped clean? A magic eraser. Everyone deserves a Clean Slate. A chance to start over – a new opportunity. In a lot of cases, the saying – you never get a second chance to make a first impression, isn’t applicable. We never get that first chance because of the possible gossip that surrounds us.
Sara was a great student – she woke up one day and heard her parents fighting. As she sat down to eat breakfast, she could hear them in the other room – she lost her appetite. Her mom came in and yelled at her and took her food from her and sent her to school hungry. Her mood was not the same that day. Ms. Beth, her teacher at the time, yelled at her also for not being attentive in class and so the struggles began for Sara and Ms. Beth.
If we strive to be like God in our daily walk – strive to be that “good and faithful servant”, then let’s listen to the words of the bible and apply them to our everyday actions. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 Every morning, wipe everyone’s slate clean. Let’s start everyday like it was a new day with new beginnings and try better to live by His words.“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
