Chief Learner

    

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Once, in my youth, I sat in a "Sunday School" class where the teacher asked, "How many of you read your Bible every day this week?" I lifted my hand, fully expecting to see others do the same, so I was dumbfounded when no one else did. In fact, a few others raised eyebrows at me, as if to say, "Liar." The teacher went on to ask, "How many of you read your Bible one day this week when you weren't at church?" This line of questioning continued until I realized not one of my peers had even picked their Bible up since the last time they were sitting in that room. They had no desire for personal growth, or so it seemed to me. At that season in my life, I couldn't seem to make it through a day with out pouring over scripture in search of truth and wisdom.

I'm still hungry for knowledge, but when I look back a decade to that teenage version of my self I have to chuckle. That simple girl, so excited to know more of God's word couldn't comprehend how many people don't "hunger and thirst for righteousness." Now, there have certainly been times in my life when I was sick of being in school, tired of studying, and completely disgusted by the idea of reading yet another journal article, but the longing for wisdom and knowledge has never been far from me. This is so true, that I actually asked my husband to buy the two books pictured here as my birthday gift this year. He was delighted, knowing that he wouldn't have to 'come up' with a gift on his own, and I was excited that I had an excuse to get new books on what has recently become one of my favorite topics.

I enjoy reading Christian, biblically-based perspectives on marriage because, for years, having a marriage that truly exemplifies God's purposes for the union of man and woman has been a resolution of mine. I passionately seek to be the kind of wife that Matt can be proud of and, more importantly, that God will use for His glory. Although I feel that I've done fairly well, improving all the time, the last 3 1/2 years, I continue to read, study, and glean from those further along in the journey, and, you know, I haven't gotten bored yet. I've seen that when I seek wisdom from God, the supply is endless. I can never be all-knowing. And, though our marriage is a good one, it isn't perfect. After all, how can two imperfect people ever create a perfect partnership?

This year I'm working under a principal who refers to herself as the chief learner. She reminds her staff that we will become ineffective as teachers the day that we quit learning, and I think, How Biblical!  So, that's the purpose of this blog, really. Though my sincere hope and prayer is that the words I am able to share here will be edifying to all who read, so long as I am being continually motivated to learn more about my Savior and am growing as a child of God, my time will not have been spent in vain.