By Barry H. Hendrix
James Howard, custodian at Thomasville Middle School, gave the devotion Aug. 4 at the annual employee “Institute” at the Thomasville Civic Center.
He spoke from Psalms 1:18 and 24, “For this is the day the Lord has made. And we will rejoice and be glad in it.” The scripture reminds us “who is the author of the day,” he said.
Howard spoke about how many educators in the school system are wearing many hats and responsibilities. “So often when we are dealing with so many things being brought to us, often times, we can lose focus.”
He told the gathered school employees that “your days are filled with purpose, responsibility, and often, unpredictability. This Psalms speaks to us with fresh clarity. In school settings, it invites us to pause and recognize that today, with all its moving parts, interruptions…has been intentionally crafted by God.
“This is the day the Lord has made,” Howard said. “…No day is accidental. Each morning before the first student walks through the door…God has already gone before us. He has prepared this day, and he invites us to walk in it with joy – not dread, with purpose, not routine.
“There will be difficult moments: a challenging student, a last-minute schedule change (and) a technology glitch. Even personal struggles outside of school may threaten our sense of peace. But this verse reminds us that we can still rejoice, not because everything is perfect…but because God is present in it all.
“There is a rhythm to the school year: planning, preparing, teaching, listening, correcting, encouraging - repeat,” he said. “It is easy for the days to blur, and for the mission to get blurred under the weight of deadlines, behavior issues, testing and tiredness.”
Howard asked the educators to choose “to anchor our hearts in something deeper than our circumstances. …God is working in and through us – even in small interactions.” Examples might be “a kind word to a frustrated student,” a patient answer to a repeated question by a student or a supportive conversation with a fellow staff member.
As an educator in Thomasville, “you are not just filling out a job description,” he said. “You are living out a calling. We get to make a difference. We get to show compassion. We get to be a part of someone’s story – maybe even a part they remember years from now.
“In closing let this verse be a lens for your day:
• When it’s stressful — this is the day the Lord has made
• When it’s joyful — this is the day the Lord has made
• When it feels routine — this is still the day the Lord has made.”