Last Thursday morning my Family Literacy class for moms combined with the Level 1 ELL class for an activity in the school library. While we were doing the activity, a little girl had a moment. Her head was down on the desk and she didn’t want to talk to anyone. I went over to speak with her in Spanish and asked a few questions.
When I asked her, “tienes dolor en tu estomigo?” do you have a stomachache, she shook her head yes. The Hispanic Liaison was in the building and took the little girl down to the nurse. She had no fever and after drinking some water she felt better.
Monday morning I asked her, “sientes nerviosa en la escuela?” do you feel nervous in school, she shook her head yes. When children have anxiety, they can tend to say their stomach hurts because they do not know how to tell someone they have anxiety. I shared the information with her teacher, so she knows about it.
Yesterday I brought a few handmade dolls that were donated to her classroom. I told her, “cuando tu sientes nerviosa puedes tener muneca contigo” when you feel nervous you can have one of these dolls with you. As I left, I noticed she had gotten one of the dolls.
The little girl could not speak my language, but that was not a problem because I speak her language. She did not understand how to express what she was experiencing even in her language, she could only say her stomach hurt, but that was not a problem because I understood.
When we pray, we often do not know how to express ourselves to God. We do not speak God’s language, but that is not a problem because he speaks ours. We do not know fully how to express or even understand what is going on, but that is okay because God does.
Romans 8 says
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God
God meets us where we at. He knows what we need before we ask. He knows our circumstances.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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I could relate to your story. I have a little boy in class who feels the same way when he gets anxious. The dolls are a great idea!
I am glad he has you for a teacher
Me, too!
This is so beautiful. As teachers, we do more than impart knowledge. We have to be able to give love and show that we see each student’s humanity. You did it well, my brother.
Thank you little sister. So important to see the humanity in children and validate them
How perceptive you were in this situation, Matt! This is clearly not your first teacher rodeo🤠. Your comparison to how God speaks our language, even if we can’t always speak His, is quite perceptive as well. I’m glad our Heavenly Father knows what we need—even when we don’t.
I am grateful God knows and understands us
You are the best 🥳
Thank you little sister. How are you?
You’re welcome 🙂. Am okay, but am back to school and i don’t want to study
I understand the feeling
🥰🥰
A beautiful example. Thank you, Matt.
Thank you Dawn. How are you?
I’m well thank you, Matt. God is good. My oldest son is home after 18 months away, so it’s lovely to have time together. You doing alright? Is the coffee still flowing?
The coffee is flowing in my home but the coffee shop is closed temporarily
That was so sweet of you. 😭💕
Thank you. How are you?
Better than I deserve. ❤ The Lord is good my brother.
Little sister you deserve good things because you are a daughter of the most high God
This really makes me smile. I know both the anxiety of the student and the opportunity to extend a hand to the anxious one well. So glad we have a Father who indeed meets us where we are.
Little sister you are a blessing to many. I am proud of you for using your experience with anxiety to be a care given to little ones
Such a precious thought, that we don’t speak God’s language but that He speaks ours. Many blessings, Matt, for all you do for the dear ones in your class and for all you teach us through it.
Thank you Patty. How is the remodel going?
Things are going well. They got a lot done this week. Having to replace the sub-flooring that was too thin has been a setback but it needed to be done. We’re in our little upstairs groove and thankful that we decided to stay here instead of going someplace else. Thanks for asking! Have a wonderful Lord’s day!
You are a great teacher. And God is a great God for always understanding us even when we do not know how to say it to Him or how to speak.
I am so grateful that God understand us even when I can only pray- ugh- on bad mornings 🙂
I am so glad you speak her language Matt! I also love how you turned such a caring story around and pointed to God.
You have always been such a blessing to the blogging community brother!
Thank you Stuart. Blessings on your Sunday
Children can’t communicate what they are feeling since they are still learning how to navigate their emotions. This is such a heart-warming read ❤️
So true they are still learning, but we can help them ❤️
What a blessing and an example you were to that precious child. We never know what will grow from small seeds planted with love.
She is a precious child 🧒
Amen. It is wonderful how you are able to incorporate your daily activities with lessons from the Word of God. You are a blessing to those children.
I pray for that each morning to be a blessing
He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit. AMEN. that’s a powerful story and a powerful conclusion.
Thank you sweet daughter. How are you?