“Love always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:7c NIV)

How many students did I have in my classroom every year? Class sizes always vary, but I always volunteered to take more, making my class size usually bigger than anyone else in my school. There was one time, however, when my class swelled to double its normal size…

I had been told that there were students visiting from France in our area. These students, along with their two teachers, had been planning on visiting the Canadian capital of Ottawa. The harsh realities of Canadian winters had set in, however, and Ottawa was under deep-freeze conditions. The students from France would not be able to go there, and our school board was looking to place them in a local school for a few days.

When I heard about this, I asked my principal if I can invite the class into my own classroom. I told the principal that it would be good for my French Immersion class to have people to speak French with, and so it was arranged. The following day I had 30 students from France in my classroom, doubled my class size to over 60 students.

The other teachers were seldom there. They took the oportunity to visit our local community. Meanwhile, back in the classroom, my own students continued with their regular classwork, and I prepared for the French students to have fun and get a chance to practice their English. These turned out to be a very good two weeks for both sets of students. The French kids liked what they were learning. They also liked to play chess, and we had some chess competitions. The English kids quickly made friends with the kids from Franch, and when they French kids returned home, many of my students continued to correspond with them.

Now, it could easily be said that my class of 60 students was way too big. In fact, I could have initially said, “That would be way too many students. I don’t want them!” My conscience wouldn’t have let me do that, however; for if I had done so, these kids wouldn’t have been able to experience a Canadian classroom and go away with many new Canadian friends. I won’t say it was easy to teach so many students, but God gave me the wisdom and strength to do so.

When we perseveres in love, we can be guaranteed that our Father in Heaven will come through for us. Even with 100 students! How? Because when we persevere in love and depend on our Heavenly Father, all things are possible. Doesn’t the Bible say, “I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13 NIV)? And doesn’t it say, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 4:10 NIV)? And doesn’t the Bible promise, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…” (2 Cor. 9:8 NIV)?

When we perservere in love, God ALWAYS comes through! Even for 60 students!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “God’s Love in YOU” devotional series, please click here.)