002: Doing Good

February 17, 2010
Galations 5:16-6:10

Today, at my afternoon class, one of my students came into the class with 20 new pencils and at least that many erasers caps. She said to me, “Here, Dani, I brought some new pencils.” I was overjoyed.

Last week – or maybe it was the week before – I went around and around with one of my students because he did not want to use a pencil to do his work. And if he did have to use a pencil, he wanted it to be sharp, with an eraser. We don’t have a lot of sharp pencils with erasers in my classroom. I should have just gone and bought a couple packages myself, but my memory is terrible about little details like that, so I kept forgetting.

Barb did not forget.

Barb always brings her own pencils with erasers – she’s very responsible – but she knows that not everyone does. I’m not sure if she was just tired of my trying to coax the other students into using the pencils that we had, or if she just randomly thought to herself, “Oh, we need pencils in the classroom – I’ll get some!” but regardless, she remembered when I forgot.

Her contribution to the class made me think of the list of Holy Spirit developed attributes that believers should exhibit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Specifically, Paul states after this list that, “there is no law against these things!” He goes on to say, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone – especially to those in the family of faith.”

Barb’s generous gift – her “doing good” for the sake of the classroom – was a convicting challenge to me in the best way possible. What am I doing that is “good”? What am I doing that is above and beyond my duty and responsibility and, essentially, what I’m getting paid for? Anything? Perhaps more importantly, when do I have the opportunity to do good and I don’t jump at it? Why don’t I?

The pencils are sharpened and sitting in the basket in our room for whichever of the students needs them. Barb herself might use them at some point, or she might just continue to bring her own pencils and let the other students utilize the ones she supplied. I don’t think it really matters. She did something she didn’t have to do, but did anyhow for the sake of her classmates.

I want to be someone that does good things.