It is SPRING… thankfully. This winter was rough. Winters are always difficult for me. I need sunlight (as I am sure many of you do). I need flowers. I need signs of life. The winters in Baltimore are pretty horrible, however the spring is so beautiful that it literally makes me FORGET how hard the winter was for me.
Recently, 600 dollars was stolen out of my classroom. I am sure you are wondering why 600 dollars was in my room to begin with. Well, I was collecting money for a New York field trip at the end of this month. I should have dropped off the money in the office as it was reaching multiple hundreds of dollars. But I didn’t and it was stolen. My principal was really upset at my irresponsibility and negligence. Several weeks goes by and my partner teacher and I decide to reconcile. Somehow… someway… we came up $300 ahead of what we owed and I had not yet put the mystery $600 in. I immediately rejoiced thinking that I would not have to pay the money back at all. My principal asked if the balance was paid and we both replied with a resounding YES but never once mentioned that the missing money was no longer needed. My partner teacher and I rejoiced in the discovery and called the day quits as we left the Ashburton community.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I couldn’t stop wrestling with it. I talked to many of my friends about these mixed feelings of joy and untruthfulness. I was confused. Several of my friends told me I should tell him to which I replied defensively because this was MY money. I needed to count my blessings and stop thinking about it. But I couldn’t.
“Trust me, Kristie.”
“Trust my provision.”
I wanted to once again take matters into my own hands and figure out how I could keep MY money. Of course, I went to school the next day and asked to speak with him after school. What a long day that was! Finally 3:00 was here and I had to tell my principal who I was SURE would tell me to replace the money. He was confused and asked many questions. Several of which left me without words. He continually told me that I was irresponsible and needed to be a better steward of my classroom… He told me he would think about the situation and make a decision later.
I left feeling defeated. I left without closure, without answers. He pulled me into his office yesterday. I texted several of my friends asking them to pray… and they did. I walked into his office with my heart racing. I sat down and he immediately said “I don’t want your $600, McManus.”
My principal, a person who is nearly impenetrable, had mercy in this moment. I was speechless. I thanked him, shook his hand, apologized for my negligence and walked out of the room. I was in tears.
“Trust me, Kristie.”
“Trust my provision.”
Even in the hands of those that you don’t think have the slightest view of grace or forgiveness, God speaks. God’s provision, in the most menial of matters, gives hope to the matters that are much larger. God’s provision yesterday ever so sweetly reminded me of His presence.
I am thankful for the springtime. I am thankful for the flowers. I am thankful for the signs of life. I am thankful for rebirth.
