Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest…learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28)
When I was in first grade, I recall sitting in Sunnyview Elementary school with my large, lined paper in front of me. I had finished with the work the class had been assigned to do, and I was staring at the top right-hand corner, terrified. I looked at the place where my name was supposed to go and for some reason my mind went blank, as I could not remember how to spell my last name. My heart pounded in my chest, and I wanted to run out of the room or hide forever. I turned and whispered to the child next to me, “do you know how to spell…at which time the teacher, Mrs. Byrd, came over, picked up the paper and said to me, “Janice, if you are done write your name here.” My stomach felt queasy, and my eyes misted with tears. Filled with shame and embarrassment I said to her “I can’t recall how to spell my last name.” Mrs. Byrd knelt and put her arm around my shoulder and whispered the spelling into my ear.
I thought she was the most beautiful, kind and wonderful person I had ever met in my 6 years. No fuss, no berating, no embarrassment.
After class had ended, she helped me sound it out, saying it was kind of a tricky one to remember, whether it had one or two L’s; but in that sense of feeling safe in her presence, my name was written on my heart I felt comforted. Kindness, comfort and support were the tools she used to release me from the fear and embarrassment and bring my self-back to wholeness.
Turning within, away from our distressed mind, causes us to be still and listen for guidance. Sometimes the guidance is to ask for help. God shows up in many ways, as friends, teachers, parents, and even strangers who stop to assist us. Mrs. Byrd, my teacher that day was an instrument of God for a 6 year old child.
Spirit never shames, blames, berates or embarasses us. Spirit is like a beloved friend who embraces us and whispers to us our next step. Unity Principles help us to learn to stop, to turn within, to listen and as we do, we develop the courage and faith to make this our spiritual practice as we journey through life.
Affirm:
I am a beloved child of God. I am whole. In this awareness, I rest assured.
