As a teacher, mother, sister, daughter and a child of God, I ought to imitate our God-like character of honesty, fairness, justice, obedience, holiness, righteousness, patience, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, compassion and love at its best. In everything that I do, whether I’m dealing with my family members, superiors, colleagues, church mates or students, I must display Christ-like character since I myself am a recipient of these marvellous characters of our Lord. I have been loved when I felt unloved. I have been blessed beyond measure when I felt I did not deserve to be blessed. I have been healed when I thought I would be dying of something that made me so dreadful about. The Lord has really been so gracious to me at all times. So as His child, I must be an armour and agent of the same kind of value I have been given with through my faithfulness with the task entrusted to me – that is to be a teacher and a mentor in the real sense.

At this point in my teaching, I often see students disturbed with so many things such as the need for relationship build-ups, lack of personality boost, broken family relationships, toxic sexual affairs, social media addiction and so much more. I have nothing left to feel but to really feel sorry for them. I pity them for such lack. My heart goes for them. I would often think, “If they only know the key for the solution of their struggles, they wouldn’t have suffered much.” I can see in their eyes the shallowness and the deep longing for a real sense of happiness which they can never find with anyone, not even among their family members, for such relationship is superficial as well. The only kind of relationship that is lasting, real, valid, sincere, genuine, sacrificial and immovable is their relationship with our loving God and Saviour Jesus Christ. I can be an armour and agent of God’s free and unconditional love. But how? Through constant display of God-like character. Yes, I get mad with them at times, but I don’t get mad with them as persons. I get mad with what they do, not with them as individuals. I would often tell them, value yourself the way God values you. Go to Him with brokenness in your heart and tell Him exactly how you’re feeling and the good Lord is faithful to release you from your burden. If your parents have caused you so much pain because of their wrong choices in life, try to live your life free from blame. Do not blame your parents for their wrong choices. Pray for them instead and when you become adults, do not repeat the same mistakes done by them. Live your lives with purity, holiness, righteousness, free from hatred, anger, wrath, rage, envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, pride, selfishness, self-centeredness, greed, slander, gossip, immorality, adultery and idolatry. These are so hard to do, yes, I agree. In fact, we can never do any single act of holiness on our own. But the grace of God is sufficient for us and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil.4:13).

In dealing with my students’ struggles, I always seek God’s transforming love to be bestowed upon them the way I’ve been transformed with His love. I had been a trash in the society where I live but the love and grace of God has embraced me and washed me clean and now, the Lord desires to see His love pass from me to my students through my transformed life and heart. I need to show my students God’s real love and cultivate love to them through my words and actions. I have to constantly remind them how much the good Lord has loved and cherished them despite their imperfections. God does not desire a perfect heart in order for Him to show His love. In fact, all He needs is a broken heart, a humble heart and a sincere heart that admits faults and sins. All He needs is our admission of sin and pronouncement of nothingness and only through His strength that we can surpass sin in our lives. Only then can we experience real transformation from Him and only then can we feel His ultimate love and forgiveness – when we open our hearts and let Him be in control of every area of our lives.

God truly and absolutely loves you more than you’ll ever know!