If you stood near me for very long over the past couple of weeks you probably heard about another woman in my life. Her name is Gladis. That’s the kooky name they gave the online portfolio system that the Fine Arts teachers have to use as part of their annual evaluation. For months I have gathered information and sorted and stacked (and restacked!) reams of paper to get my data together. I spent the past week uploading pictures, recordings, and student assignments in my “sandbox” (another silly name). All of this to prove to my evaluator (and my school system and the state) that my students learned something under my teaching. My portfolio score will then be added into my principals scores on me to determine if I am an “effective teacher” or not. Thursday night, after one final re-re-re-read-through, with fear and trepidation I pushed the enter button to close it out and be done with it. I can’t tell you the joy and relief – and release! – I felt after pushing that button!!
I am even more joyful and relieved that when God looks at me to “evaluate” my life, He will see the blood of Jesus and see me in His perfection. He will weigh out the good works done in His name but I don’t have to fear that my sin column will be longer than my righteousness column. I don’t have to fear that I will come up short when the final accounting is done. Jesus has marked the sin debt of my life Paid in Full, and that’s what I need in order to spend eternity in heaven with Him. I have nothing to fear! When (and if) I claim this power and boldness, I can tell anyone about Jesus and share this wonderful, Good News! Maybe even with Gladis, if she were a real person!
love ya, Bret.
