p. 21 | Courage by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1905

Courage

By F. G.

“BE strong, and of a good courage.” This commission to Joshua is given to every leader in Israel. Time and again does the conscientious teacher almost lose heart. Her work is perplexing; for “it is the nicest work ’ever assumed by men and women to deal with youthful minds.” It is well, therefore, that our teachers should have constantly on hand a large fund of courage to use in emergencies. Some days everything apparently goes wrong in school; the children are restless and disorderly, and do not learn their lessons. This state of affairs will be continued day after day, or it will be changed.

A change for the better depends very largely upon the courage of the teacher. She needs to realize that while dark and discouraging days do come, and always will, yet with a spirit of courage which gives a determination that the school work shall run smoothly and properly, the next day succeeding one of these dark days may be one of quiet obedience and study. We are never to give up in discouragement. This certainly will not win the battle.

If there was ever a teacher who had just reason to be discouraged, it was Christ. For three and one-half years he labored unceasingly, and as only he could labor, to lead his pupils to understand the truths which he was endeavoring to teach them, and yet at the close of his course of instruction they had hardly grasped the principles which he had endeavored to teach them, and they were proclaiming them to the whole world with so much force and power as to make even kings and rulers on their thrones tremble.

So it is well for us that we look not alone to the immediate results, but remember that if we are faithful, there will go forth from our schools those who have been so instructed that they will be mighty heralds of truth. F. G.