Difference between hazel and basil

There are days in the first grade classroom that are just so wonderful that I don't even think it necessary to collect a paycheck.  Then there are days when I know beyond a reasonable doubt that my job does not pay nearly enough.  You see, I am the "helper."  I cannot set the tone of the classroom nor can I decide the order of events, but I do get to alter an attitude, put a smile on a face, make a little lightbulb go on and what is my favorite - the  privilege of listening to one of those priceless comments a first-grader can make.  Well maybe a hug is better, but for the purpose of this blog, I'm going to say it's my favorite to have access to the thoughts of a six year old.

Adorable with glasses, at least one missing tooth, brown, on-the-bushy-side hair, this little tike was filling in the blanks to describe himself.  He came to "eye color."  He looked at me with his beautiful hazel eyes and said, "I know what color my eyes are.  They are basil."  Hazel, basil, I knew what he meant and he was getting to know himself quite well.  The mistake did not matter, I knew his intent and that he had done his best.  Thank the Lord that when I say basil when it is really hazel I mean, the Lord smiles and is so glad to know me.

Okay.  Back to the classroom.  There is another particular darling, who has minor issues.  Well, you wonder, who does NOT have minor issues??  Anyway, this cutie-pie guy has a little bit of a hard time sitting still, thus the need for me, the "helper."  Thankfully the Holy Ghost grants wisdom, and the idea popped into my head to assign a sticker chart to him.  Each time I instruct him to "wait," "listen," etc., if he carries out the being-still-kind-of-procedure without incident, he receives a sticker.  When his sticker card is filled, he will receive a reward for his efforts.  Often when he is in the holding mode, his hands will be folded atop his desk.  Now you must know where I am going with this...

Waiting, being still before the Lord is not easy, especially when it is soulish imprisonment, the sensation of those chains on one's ankles, and it also can be difficult when it is just plain patience we need, wondering what the next step is to be.  But the reward will come.  Imagine the sticker sheet, listen to the voice of the Helper...  Know His torrential love...