It's a Wonderful Life

It's a wonderful Life is Paige's favorite movie. In it there is a scene in which George (Jimmy Stewart) calls a teacher and unloads on her. Shortly afterward the teacher's husband called him and let him have it. Later in the movie the teacher's husband hits him. There was a day earlier this week that I wanted to do that to the parent of a child in Paige's class. I didn't and it would have cause all kinds of problems if I did, but I sure felt like it.

She came home really upset about a parent who wrongfully unloaded on and at her. I love my wife and hate to see her upset. Especially for something like this. She's had a tough school year and things like this don't help.

You have to be thick skinned to work with people sometimes. Ultimately you have to remember who you are doing this for. For teachers, it's for the benefit of the kids, not the parents. For a pastor it is for Christ and the souls of the people we encounter. It's all about purpose and vision. Keep your purpose in mind, and stay focused on your vision, and tough encounters are a lot easier to get past.