Reward Card.

by: Gail S. Montero

           

Feel God’s Message in Today’s Gospel:  MT 21:33-43

Since September 5 to October 5 is a Celebration of National TEACHERS’ Month, I’ve been receiving thoughtful messages from my Basic Ed High School students years back, until this ONE REMARKABLE message popped up in my Messenger:

“Salamat po Ma’am Gail,

I kept earning my plus-points!”

…made me recall when I would give my students “100 points” to represent a 100% grade in some components of their grade in their Values Education Subject.  They would love “starting-over-again” every grading period because instead of me telling them “back-to-zero”,  I would gladly announce that their grade-opportunity is “back-to-100%” -- which they have to “manage well” within the quarter.

How? … At the start of each grading period, I would give them few minutes to clean-up & organize their responsibility zones: Journals[notebook], lockers, bags & of course their entire classroom set up, including a new seat plan.   As we set-off spic-&-span, “all prepared” for the quarter, they would automatically get their 100pts.  Although there were some instances when they would get “minus points” because they naturally mess-up on some instances & fail to keep things in order  just before I would do some “surprise-random-checks & visits”, but then, they would strive to re-organize their personal zones -- so that they could “re-EARN” for their previous remaining points when I give them several “plus points” – which varied according to the extent of the effort that they have personally exerted – without comparing each of their creativity & effort to that of the others.  

I did not earn that much 20 years ago as a full time high school teacher; I kind’a level up a bit in my current pay as a part-time Professor to Masteral Students every Saturday – but still, not that much as of yet; not so sure if I already would, until I finish my Doctorate Degree -- pero ‘yong ipaalam sayo na “malaki ang naging contribution mo” in the life of one of your students dahil sa “maliit na bagay” at simpleng sistema na ipinaranas mo sa kanila, it’s MORE THAN FULFILLING na tumatanggap ka ng PAGTANAW NG UTANG NA LOOB -- kasi, napatunayan mo na “dahil hindi mo ipinagdamot ang 100% na opportunity, ITINUTULOY NILA na ma-SUSTAIN ang 100% na kaya din nilang ibigay.

Naisip ko lang, isa lang si “Marc Jess” sa mga students na naging “devoted” na palaguin ang pagkakataon ng ibinigay sa kanya, pero sobrang saya na sa pakiramdam – as in!

How much more kung icoconsider pa natin ang iba pa na mga naging successful students ng mga “My Teacher, My Hero” nationwide – at kung ang lahat ng pasasalamat na ito ang ibabalik natin to OUR GREAT TEACHER: the CORNERSTONE OF OUR STRENGTH and ALL THAT WE HAVE – ilang “plus points” kaya ang pwedeng paulanin sa atin ni God dahil sa SOBRA-sobrang magigigng masaya Sya dahil we gave the right amount of FAITHFULNESS SUKLI sa pagiging generous nya?

We are but tenants in God’s Vineyard -- with all the 100% OPPORTUNITY that we could grab! Katulad ng isang Marc Jess na nakaramdam ng pasasalamat kaya ‘di kinailangang i-compare ang sarili sa kung anong portion ng vineyard ang napunta sa kanya, 100% nya ding sinuklian ang chance na ibinigay sa kanya – kaya ngayon, “he keeps on earning his rewards” … ang secret, he devotedly taught his “ear” to LISTEN with the wisdom coming from the Holy & the Teacher : H+ear+T = he listened with the HEART!  

                                                                                                                   

Happy National Teachers’ Month po sa lahat ng teachers IN A BIGGER CLASSROOM called LIFE!

visit #sunset’sblog @ trendingprof47.InspiringInfluence.com