How do you measure success? Bank account balance? Square footage? Number of toys? Test scores?
Wednesday morning I was in a panic. I was measuring my success by my student’s performance on a test. What if they performed badly? What if my pass rate failed. I was allowing my entire school year to rest on the merits of one test.
But God, who is rich in mercy, reminded me of how He measures success. Are you loving the people I have put in your path? Are you a sweet aroma of Me? Are you pointing people to Me? Are you walking in your gifts?
After my meltdown Wednesday morning, God reminded me what was really important:
1. A young woman had a question at the end of my online teaching session. I dismissed the rest of the class and told her to hang on the call so I could answer her questions. After everyone left, I answered her question about calculus and then she shared how anxious she was about the the upcoming AP exam. I was able to share with her my own bout with anxiety that morning. I told her how I had prayed to my God and he had given me peace. I encouraged her that I would be praying for her and the class as they took their test. She left the call knowing a little more about Calculus but more importantly, filled with peace.
2. Two former students took the time to write me beautiful notes, thanking me for making calculus fun and understandable.
3. A young man dropped in during my office hours to ask a question. It took about 3 minutes to answer his math question and then we just talked about music, family, summer, for about 45 more minutes. He too shared how much he and his friends enjoyed my class.
These are the successes that can’t be measured by numbers.
God reminded me Wednesday that my success is measured by the kind words I speak, the hope I give, the peace I deposit, the prayers I pray, the commitment I display, the love I show.
Too often, even in the church we can measure our success by the numbers – attendance, salvations, healings, offering basket. While ALL of those things are important, making someone feel valued and love is just as important. Sowing seeds of kindness is immeasurable. Being a good steward of the people God has put in your path is priceless.
How are you measuring success today?
““And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 CSB