“I can do it!”
One of my kindergarten students grunted at me, as I walked around the table opening lunch containers for students as they needed help. He had a Lunchable to eat but was obviously struggling to remove the plastic on top of the tray.
“Ok,” I replied. “If you need help, raise your hand.”
Minutes ticked by, and the students were all munching on peanut butter and jelly or bologna sandwiches, except for Mr. Lunchable. (As a side note to all parents: please consider sending “easy open” foods to school with your young children. Their teachers will be forever grateful for this small act of consideration.) As he continued struggling to open his lunch, I walked back over to his table.
“Let me help you, so you can eat,” I said, reaching for the small plastic tray.
“No!” he said, his little, red face scrunched up as he swung the Lunchable away from my hands. “I can do it myself!”
I acquiesced and went back to my desk. By now, most of the students had finished their main courses and had moved on to snacks or desserts. I rang my bell and announced that all students who had finished their main courses were free to have talking privileges. Mr. Lunchable stopped struggling with his lunch for a moment and looked around at the other students conversing with one another. A strong pout formed across his face as he propped his elbows on the table edge and dropped his cheeks into his hands.
Lunch was nearly over, and Mr. Lunchable still had not eaten one bite. The students happily chatted and giggled around him. He had all but given up trying to open the mangled but still tightly-sealed lunch tray. I rang my bell again, signifying that lunch was over. The look of sheer panic flashing in his eyes quickly turned to a red-hot anger as he snatched up the Lunchable tray and shoved it into his lunchbox. His head dropped to the table in an angry huff.
“Trash helper, please begin your job,” I called my student-helper to action.
The trash helper carried the small can to each student as they swept wrappers and crumbs into the wastebasket. When the trash helper arrived at Mr. Lunchable’s seat, he tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. Mr. Lunchable picked up his head and shook his sullen face at the helper, and the helper moved on to the next student.
Once we were cleaned up and ready to move on, I announced that we would be having a special story time after lunch. The students all hurried over to the carpet in the corner by the bookshelf, but I called Mr. Lunchable back to my desk.
“Why didn’t you eat your lunch?” I asked him inquisitively, as though I had no idea why he hadn’t eaten.
“’Cause I couldn’t open it,” he pouted.
“Oh,” I said. “Didn’t I try to help you?”
“Yes,” he replied, staring at the floor.
“Well, you can’t go all day without eating. I’m going to open your lunch and give you fifteen minutes to eat some food, but you must sit on the other side of the room, away from the story corner. You can listen to the story, but you won’t be able to see the pictures or enjoy the book. At least, you won’t be hungry.”
A small pout and look of regret passed over his face before walking over to the small, round table by the classroom door. I opened his lunch, set him a place at the table, and then rejoined the rest of the class for story time.
Many years later, in my personal devotions, I read a passage of scripture that reminded me of this event from my time as a kindergarten teacher. In Numbers 11, the children of Israel complained again about their food. God had provided them with exactly what they needed, but they murmured and complained about wanting the food from Egypt.
In Numbers 11:11, there is obvious frustration in Moses’ words to God. And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Then, in verse 12, we can almost feel his frustration in our own hearts. Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
I imagine a mother after a particularly trying day with her children, or a student overwhelmed with assignments, would feel this way as well. However, one of the most relatable phrases comes from Moses in verse 14. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
We have all been there, facing situations in life where we have said, “I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s too much for me.” Mr. Lunchable probably said this in his mind also, when that second bell rang to end the lunch period, “I just can’t do it! It’s too hard!” as he succumbed to defeat.
Although Moses was struggling with the task God had given him, he went to God for help. God could have sewn shut all the lips of the complainers. God could have caused all the complainers to die, right then and there. Both options would have been a solution to Moses’ frustration. It is interesting how God chose to solve this problem.
Numbers 11:16-17 says, And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel,…that they may stand there with thee. …and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.”
God instructed Moses to gather seventy men of Israel to help him bear the burden. God did not remove the burden. He simply provided the people to help Moses endure the difficulty. Imagine if Moses had done like Mr. Lunchable had done.
“No, God! I don’t want seventy helpers. Just silence the complainers!”
Moses would be sitting at a table alone, succumbing to his burden and watching all the other children enjoy the blessings of God. This is true for every Christian. God provides His church––His family––to help each other in times of need. I personally can testify that I do not know where I would be without my church family. I know that, besides the many gifts and acts of services, my church family also prays for me. This is God’s method of caring for His children. Many times, He uses people to carry blessings, assistance, or relief to His children.
We must be willing to accept His help. Just like Mr. Lunchable, although frustrated and hungry, we often say, “I got it. I can do it myself,” when God is sending us the help we need. Then, in gloomy defeat, we miss out on even more blessings, while we sit alone and eat our humble pie. God gives His children an amazing benefit within the local church. It was not His will for Moses to bear this burden alone, and it is true of Christians today. We must simply humble ourselves, call on Him for help, recognize the help when it comes, and accept the help He has given to us.
by Krystal Salm