Thank you, Ma’am: A Spiritual Pedagogy

One of my favorite stories to read with students is Thank You Ma’am, by Langston Hughes. Like many great pieces of literature, it seems to take on a new significance every time I approach it. In studying this work with my students this week, I have been struck as much by the spiritual implications of the work as I have been by the pedagogical.

The story begins with a young boy, Roger, attempting to steal a rather large purse from a rather large woman. Fortunately for Roger, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones sees something in him- a kinship- that inspires her to extend grace and not call for justice. She takes Roger home (in a half nelson), and gives him both something to eat and something to chew on. Despite what her regal name might imply, Mrs. Jones is not wealthy. She lives in a boarding house, and heats up their simple dinner over a hotplate. She doesn’t have much to give, but she gives it all to a young man who is completely undeserving. My students sat, shocked, as we read that, after feeding Roger dinner, she offered him more, and then, on top of that, she gave him enough money for the shoes he wanted.

I am reminded of Luke 21, when Jesus praises the widow in the Temple for giving a small gift, because for her it was given extravagantly. His message, of course, for the Pharisees and for us, is that of radical generosity. Jesus reminds us time and time again in the gospels that we are to love Him more than we love our things, and that loving and serving our brothers is a high priestly calling. Mrs. Jones is a widow, and her mite is a plate of lima beans, a halved cake, and a ten dollar bill. When she urges Roger to wash his face, she is nudging him toward redemption. She helps Roger see that he can be clean, and she sends him on his way a changed man.

The money for shoes really sticks in my students’ collective craw. Why does she give him money for fancy shoes? They all think it’s nice and sweet for her to feed him and “teach him right from wrong”, but the shoe money seems dumb, they think. He doesn’t need shoes. “No. He doesn’t,” I agree, “But he wants them.” In Matthew 5, Jesus admonishes the crowd, telling them, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” The command of our Heavenly Father is to give more than is required- to bless others radically. Not because they earned it, but because we have been blessed so radically by our Heavenly Father.

“Be ye kind, one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” -Ephesians 4:32

My students are planning essays where they will argue whether or not they think Roger will really make a change in his life. They are digging through the text to look for clues that show a real heart change, not superficial and temporary compliance. Pretty standard stuff. But one kid stopped me in my tracks with a question.

“Mrs. Stewart? Do you think the reason the lesson sticks is that Mrs. Jones is such a good teacher?”

Woah. Um. Yes. Wow.

I took a beat to consider the import of the student’s idea. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones is Roger’s teacher, sure. And she does a good job…. but why? First, she knows how to engage her student. While I wouldn’t recommend physically assaulting and dragging students in a classroom (at all), she certainly gets her pupil’s attention! She then asks him about himself, and tries to develop a rapport. She conducts a needs assessment of a sort, understanding that what he needs is likely very different than what he wants. She gives to him generously, caring as much about his need for morals as his need for sustenance. She tests him when she senses that he is ready- giving him several opportunities to make off with her purse. She also speaks to him as a brother. She is not proud and dominating, she is humble and treats Roger with dignity and respect. She treats him the way she would want to be treated, and in doing so, she helps him develop a new, more positive, self concept. Roger learns from Mrs. Jones because she spends time building trust and making him feel safe.

This is the calling of Christian educators. We come alongside our students, helping them to see that we are co-laborers, co-image bearers, and joint heirs to the Kingdom of God. We are relationship builders. Very often, like Mrs. Jones, our work leaves us tired and hungry, but we are never too hungry or tired to share generously with those that God has called us to serve. We don’t do it all perfectly, but we do it in service to the King, and we trust that our labor is for our good and for His glory. Soli deo Gloria!