A Meal with my Students

Often, I forget how much I enjoy cooking a meal for someone else. I don't know why I forget this, but I do. When I do prepare a meal for others (not including my family, because I do that all the time), I really do enjoy it.

Tonight, I made Chicken Divan for my students in my English Class that I teach from 5-8pm, 2 nights a week. This was our last class this semester, so I decided to celebrate with them by having a dinner for them. They were THRILLED with this idea and couldn't wait. You see, we talk about food a lot in my class, since we meet around dinner time. We usually share what we ate or will be eating for dinner. Often, my response was Chicken Divan. My students had not heard of this meal and since I had mentioned it was Matt's favorite, they wanted to taste it. I described it to them: a casserole with Broccoli, Chicken, sauce seasoned with Curry, cheese, and bread cubes with butter drizzled over them. Anyway, they kept begging me to bring it in one night, so half way through the semester, after I witnessed how much effort they were putting into getting their High School Diploma and bettering their lives, I promised them I would bring it in for our party on the last class.

As I was making the dinner for them tonight, I was nervous to find out if they would like it or not...and Believe me, they don't hold back in telling someone their opinion. When they came into the class room, I had everything all laid out for us to enjoy a meal together. Every student LOVED it!! I was so happy. We had a wonderful time eating and talking. It was a perfect way to end our time together.

Even though I was their teacher and they were my students, they truly taught me many valuable lessons and reminders. My students reminded me that people are people...race, gender, economic class, age, and whatever... - we all desire to be loved, accepted, and respected by others and we all desire to live a happy and peaceful life. Because of them, I feel my heart was opened wider to loving, accepting, and respecting those that may be different from me...(a truly valuable lesson to relearn and understand deeper.) I enjoyed my time with them and hearing their life stories. In getting to know their backgrounds and current situations, I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for. Compared to what some of them (I should probably saw all of them) have had to overcome, I have had one BLESSED life, and need to make sure I am not living ungratefully. My students reminded me that even when life is Difficult, you can't give up! I am so grateful for these reminders!

These students may not live a "perfect" life, but they are doing their best to make a better life for themselves and their children...and that IS one thing that we DO have in common!

I will probably never see these students again, and I am kinda sad about not really knowing how each of their stories will end. I just hope that my time with them made a positive impact on their life and future.

After cleaning up, turning off the lights and closing our classroom door, I walked to my car praying for my students: Praying that they would not give up, but continue to fulfill their many dreams and that God would bless each of them along their path, and that if they don't already, that they would come to know God and embrace His Love and Grace.