The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
—Psalm 19:8 Amplified Bible
When I was in elementary school, I had a friend named Marcie. She lived across the street from my grandmother’s home, so we had the opportunity to play outside together over the years. One year, we found ourselves in the same classroom. While I was an honor student, Marcie struggled. Our teacher chastised her openly in class, saying that she got poor grades because she didn’t care and she didn’t study.
Instead of hanging outside after school, I offered to help Marcie study our vocabulary words. My grandmother and my aunt had given me a chalkboard for Christmas, and I spent a lot of time teaching vocabulary to my imaginary classroom. Marcie was a real, live student! She seemed to enjoy practicing what we were learning in class together. On our next Friday spelling test, Marcie earned a B+! It was a celebration for the entire class.
Our teacher asked Marcie what she had done differently, and she said that she had studied with me. My teacher praised me and encouraged us to continue. We did for a while but, like it was for most little girls, playing outside was more fun. At the end of the year, Marcie was transferred to special education. All she needed was more attention and more time—some help to light her path with spelling and other subjects to keep her on track with the class.
To enlighten means to offer intellectual or spiritual instruction or impartation. As someone whose primary spiritual gift is teaching, I can’t help but share what I know wherever I go. As my calling is to preach God’s word and to help others run with the gifts that God has given them, I offer instruction or impartations with the goal of illuminating the God path for people to see and follow.
From elementary school until now, I have met many Marcies along the way in my academic and professional career. I, too, have been a Marcie for other teachers and spiritual guides—someone who just needed another person to come alongside them, speak life into them, share their knowledge, and help light a path ahead. As a coach, my work speaks to the Marcie in all of us: walking alongside my coaching partners to get them to the goal that God has for them.
- What brings joy to your heart?
- How is that joy connected to your spiritual gift(s)?
- How are God’s calling and commandment in your life lighting your path now?
