For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles

himself will be exalted.. (Luke 14:11)

Courage and Humility
Jesus truly is the greatest teacher and teaching role model we could ever
have. One of the greatest lessons we can ever learn from him is humility. To be
lights for Christ in his classrooms, it is imperative that we are humble. We must be
humble first before God and then He will give us the courage and the grace to
humble ourselves before the students, parents and fellow staff members we serve.
Humility means not insisting on having our own way with students, staff,
and parents. It means putting the needs of others before our own needs. It means
taking the lower position and waiting to be invited to the higher position. Humility means not believing we are superior
to others because of any skills, gifts, or positions we hold. It means being a servant to all.
Sara Bloomington is a humility heroine. She is a Spanish teacher and chairperson of the foreign language
department at a large low income urban public high school. Though born in a low income family, God opened doors
for Sara to earn a doctoral degree from a noted eastern university. God has gifted her in many ways. Sara speaks four
foreign languages fluently. She has a vast knowledge of the Bible and a deep personal relationship with Christ. She
has a prophetic gifting from the Lord and while in prayer for others she offers them great incites, encouragement, and
correction from the Lord. She is gifted in the arts as well in the areas of song, creative writing, and dance. One gift she
lacked as she came out of college, however, was humility. There are no college classes titled, Humility 101 that you
must pass in order to graduate, although Pride 101, 202, 303, and 404 are offered at every college and university.
Many colleges offer graduate degrees in the area of pride. God reserves the humility courses to be taught all by
Himself in the classroom of life and He has lots of earthly teaching assistants He uses to help teach these classes.
God humbled Sara the first three or four years after college in ways rarely seen because His love for her and
her gifting was so great. He disciplines those He loves. Her dream and vision had always been to be a college
professor. She applied for openings at various universities and even landed several part time jobs with several local
universities and colleges. She would pray with her close Christian colleagues before she flew off to interview at
colleges around the United States. Still, no full time positions would open up. The Lord cracked but would not fully
open the professional door upon which she was knocking.
The one door the Lord left wide open was substitute teaching in the public schools in the school district she
had attended in her youth. This was about the last choice on Mellas preferred list for teaching positions. She took the
lowest possible status job in the teaching profession. She substitute taught everything from the most severely
emotionally disturbed elementary students to the most gifted high school students. All this time her heart was breaking.
She kept asking God, Why are you doing this to me? Why am I locked out of the profession I so love and to which
you have called me?
One day while substitute teaching in a kindergarten class at a very low income school, she bent down to tie a
small childs shoe. As she tied the students shoe, God gave her the revelation that she was actually tying His shoe. He
reminded her, What you have done to the least of them, you have done to me. She realized what a great gift it was to
even substitute teach in kindergarten. She realized she was to thank God for every day she was given the opportunity
to teach no matter the school, position, or circumstances. Her hidden pride in her three college degrees, like beautiful
garments which bring no warmth or security, fell off of her that day. In that revelation God bestowed upon her an
invisible graduate gown of humility and she received her spiritual bachelors degree with a double major in praise and
humility. No person saw her. She didnt have to walk across a stage and she got no written certificate, but there were
angels standing and applauding. God the Father was making more notes in the Book of Life.
After receiving that degree from Jesus, doors began to open for Sara. She soon signed a contract to teach
foreign language at a large urban high school. The very next day she was offered a full time teaching position at a local
community college, her dream job. Being a person of integrity, she did not immediately resign her new position but
honored the contract and stayed at the high school where she served as the department chairperson for many years
dispensing the light of Christ there in life changing ways for both students and faculty that few can imagine or will
ever see or know.
Prayer: Lord, teach us humility and help us thank you each day we get to serve you by serving youth.
Application: Be humble. Be a servant of ALL students, parents, and staff in your teaching environment.
Sharing: Share with others how God has humbled you personally and professionally.
CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE! (For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 20