The
school year has ended, you’ve packed up your classroom, and turned in your
grades and your keys.
Oh, and did you remember to forgive all those who
trespassed against you?
This
year there was the anonymous parent who kept leaving notes in your mailbox
about how you could do a better job teaching.
There
was the child with an emotional/behavioral disorder who bit you when you were
trying to collect his assignment.
There
was your assistant principal who gave you a lower than expected evaluation
based on criteria you weren’t even aware of.
There
was your fifth grade colleague who decided that when she had trouble with
certain students, she’d just send them to your room as part of their
punishment, without giving your warning.
And
there was the state legislature who decided in their infinite wisdom that now
your pay in attached to how well the worst of your students do on the state
test.
Yeah,
that.
I know
you think that closing your classroom door on that last day in June is the end
of it, but it isn’t. I know you’ve held onto all the wrongs that were done
against you this past school year. And I know you haven’t yet forgiven them. And
I also know that unforgiveness will color how you feel about your vocation and
the coming school year.
You may
be wondering why we should forgive someone who hasn’t asked for our
forgiveness. It’s not just for the sake of the one in need of forgiveness; it
is for us as well. We have no peace if we bear a grudge against someone. We only
have turmoil, anxiety, and doubt. Forgive so that we can end the school year
in peace and be ready to begin the new school year in peace.
Who do
you still need to forgive from this school year?