In science class this week, we have been studying rocks, minerals, and gemstones. Honestly, not my favorite thing to teach. I would much rather teach my students oceanology, astronomy, or biology. However, the book demands I teach rocks for a chapter. I was dreading teaching about rocks...how could I possibly make rocks interesting? I am totally, without a doubt, uninterested if a rock is metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary...
However, my students, on the other hand, absolutely are loving it. They have been bringing in rocks of their own to show to their fellow classmates. They have been drilling me with questions! Because of their enthusiasm for the study it caused me to look a little closer and study my lesson a little more carefully.
Today I taught about gemstones. I was teaching my students that many gemstones were regular "rocks" that had much pressure placed upon them. The pressure was hard upon them; the heat was unbearable. But the pressure eventually ended and in the place of an ugly worthless rock was a gemstone...a "rock" of great value and worth.
As those words came out of my mouth I could help but think of the spiritual aspect. I stood there for a moment just think about my life. I began to think about the pressure God seemed to put on me often in my life. I thought about the times, when I looked at other people who seemed to float through life without a problem in the world. I wondered why God seemed to place so much pressure on me? Did He love me less? What was God doing in my life? Why did I have these added difficulties? After a moment of silence, I remembered. I was standing in front of eager students wondering why their teacher was silently standing in front of them.
"Class...Sometimes, God brings hard times in our lives. Sometimes, someone we love very much becomes ill. Sometimes the things we want more than anything in the world, God tell us, No. Sometimes, it might feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. We call that pressure...."
"But listen, those who handle those difficulties, that God has placed in their life, in the right way..do you know what will become of that individual? ..that's right..they will become diamonds...diamonds for the Savior."
"Class, remember when hard times comes in your life...when pressures push down upon you just like pressures pushes down on that rock, you have two choices. You can crack, you can break, you can quit. The rock that does, is never anything but a worthless rock. But, the rock that handles pressure correctly..that rock becomes the diamond. Life isn't always going to be easy...but kids, God wants you to be emeralds, rubies, and sapphires...therefore He WILL bring pressure in your life..When He does..don't get bitter, remember He loves you and He wants you to become a gem of great beauty."
"But the choice is up to you..how will you handle the pressures life brings your way?"
