Image Bearers Part 2 of 4

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

--Genesis 1:26-27

Each person was created to bear the image of our Creator. 

 On Sunday, I wrote that my challenge for the week was to try to see our students in this way.  I referred to it as a challenge for a reason.  Seeing the good in others is not always easy.  Sometimes a glaring, ugly, undesired behavior gets in the way.  Sometimes our own lack of patience gets in the way.  Somehow we manage to do it when parent-teacher conferences roll around.  Whatever it is I’ve got to talk to the parents about, and however unpleasant it might be, I was trained to always begin with a positive.  This builds rapport with the parent and guides the tone of the conversation.  Before conferences, I write up a short list of “strengths” and “goals” for each student, so that I don’t have to think on the fly with this.  Writing down the strengths is a great exercise for looking for the best in my students.  It’s something I should do more often to help me see each student as God sees him or her.  A new perspective is never a bad thing.  Maybe your Chatty Kathy’s ability to build relationships with others reflects God’s desire to be in relationship with us.  Maybe your artistic student puts God’s wonderful creativity on display.  We know that most parents think the world of their kids and delight in their abilities and personalities.  Guess who else does the same thing?  Their Father.  He has created each one uniquely and in the likeness of Himself so he cherishes their qualities.  This is starting to get a little gushy, but it’s a truth that I wish I remembered more often.

Identifying strengths in each student is good, and it can be helpful to try to see that child from a parent’s perspective.  It would be even better however, to see that child from God’s perspective.  He says, I made you this way purposefully.  You are precious to me.  Maybe this week you just choose one student who you will commit to seeing with new eyes.  They are an image bearer, be convinced of it.  Choose to see beyond the attitude or beyond the snot and find something to cherish.