Fair, Not Equal
By Lexi Cole Ellis
By Lexi Cole Ellis
“And
my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ
Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Philippians
4:19-20 (NIV)
I learned this phrase when I was student
teaching and have used it quite a bit in my classroom. Whether it’s a first
grade room or fourth graders, there seems three little words I hear about six
times a day. “That’s not fair!” To
which, I calmly reply, “I will always be fair; I will not always be equal.”
There’s a big thing in education called differentiation: It means we assess
individual needs and address them. But my six-year-olds struggle with it. So to
reinforce it, we do a skit. A doctor is visiting three sick patients. The first
patient has a headache. The doctor says, “Go to bed early tonight. It
will be better.” Next patient has a broken arm. The doctor says, “Go to bed
early tonight. It will be better.” Third patient fell on the playground.
The doctor says…you get the idea. We explain that the teacher is the doctor.
Every student has different academic needs for learning. We need to “treat” his
or her specific needs, not do the exact same thing for everyone.
For as much as I say my phrase and do my
skit, I realized how often I am the six-year-old complaining, “That’s not
fair!” It’s often not out loud, but in my thoughts. And yet, our God - - the
great Doctor and Teacher - - looks on us with love and says gently, “I will
treat your specific needs...it won’t be equal and, fortunately for you, I’ll
give you far more than what’s fair!” He reminds us that He is the Giver and
Supplier; that He is a God who knows exactly what we need, when we need it,
even when we do not.
For me, it’s hard enough being aware of what
slips out of my mouth…being responsible for what I think is tricky! But the
reality is, our God is all-knowing…and my “it’s not fair” thoughts are a direct
result of an ungrateful heart condition. Judging “fairness” is not my job and,
left unchecked, these thoughts can become desires to “have something which we
don’t have, but think we should”…which happens to be the exact definition of
coveting, an identified sin in Scripture.
No matter the age, my kids love the “It’s
not fair!” line. But the reality is, I often do, too. What things am I
complainingly claiming are “unfair”? And, if I’m honest with myself, what does
that reveal about my heart? I still say “I will always be fair; I will not
always be equal” about six times a day…and it serves as a constant reminder for
myself every time.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What things are you claiming as “unfair”
in your thoughts or to God?
2. Identify what you need to do to address
this.
FURTHER READING:
Lexi is married to Andrew and has an
adorable puppy named Calvin. She serves with Oakwood’s Children’s Ministries,
teaches fourth grade and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
