I really wanted to help these lower-income students understand math. I decided to hit it from another angle, so I started to teach, and was interrupted again, by a girl drifting in the door, as if she could care less to be there.

The class was almost half over.

While she found her seat, I gave the class a few problems to work on, then walked over to her to speak privately.

"Tell me your name, Darlin', so I can mark you here instead of absent."

She told me, and I changed the roll.

"Can you tell me why you're late? Do you have a note?"

She sort of shrugged, and acted like it was no big deal. "No."

"Please try to not be late anymore," I said. Even though I was serving as a sub today, I'd been teaching for more than two decades, and I knew how this stuff worked. 

The student just looked at me, then leaned over to the girl next to her and said, "Next year, I'll be at junior high, and my auntie is the principal. She's already told me I can be as late to class as I want--she'll take all my tardies away!"

That is not right! I thought, a bit offended.

Since I've really grown close to the LORD over the past couple decades, I've become much more bold, and that includes while I teach in public schools (both as a substitute and even as a full-time teacher). After all, the earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, and all the peoples therein (Psalm 24:1). That includes the students in all the schools!

I turned around and said, "Sweetie, your auntie may take all your tardies away, but there's something better than that: Jesus will take all your sins away if you believe in Him!"

She just giggled and looked at me.

However, I had sown a seed, and I prayed the LORD would water it in her life. Maybe she already knew that, maybe she didn't.  Only He knew. 

Others close to her had heard it too. No one said anything as I walked back to the front of the room.

LORD, let Your seeds go deep into their hearts and change them! I thought. Thank You that You always put me in the right place at the right time, with the right word, as I ask You!

So far, I have not encountered that same student, but the LORD knows her and every one.

We trust God to help us as we plant, others water, and God gives the increase (I Corinthians 3:7)!

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.