What Will Be Written Beneath Your Picture?
- Dr. Jackie Minor
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
This summer, my husband and I spent a few days in a place I never expected to influence my thinking about a new school year. Tucked away in Ozark, Missouri, we discovered a historic Airbnb known as the Weaver House. Built in the mid-1800s, it is the oldest surviving building in the city and has connections to both the Civil War and the infamous Bald Knobbers. Staying there felt a little like spending the night in a museum. Creaky floors and aged photographs line the walls of the house.
Because of its rich history, nearly every room contained stories of people who had once lived there or helped shape the community. As I wandered from room to room reading the descriptions beneath each picture—yes, I geeked out just a little—I found myself asking an unexpected question. Would these people agree with what was written beneath their picture?
One man was remembered as a gifted carpenter and highly skilled blacksmith who loved to hunt and remained an excellent marksman well into his nineties. Another photograph told the story of the Bald Knobbers, a notorious vigilante group remembered for violence who were eventually executed in the town square. A local sheriff was described as a tough lawman who ruled with an iron fist but had a soft spot for children and the elderly.
One photograph caught my attention more than all the others. It showed a group of ordinary people standing in front of a building with no written description. Their stories had faded with time, leaving only a photograph behind. I found myself wondering. Who were they? What were they like? What mattered most to them? As I stood there, another thought quietly settled into my heart. One day someone may wonder those same things about me and about you.
None of us lives forever. The classrooms we decorate, the meetings we attend, the lesson plans we carefully craft, and the emails that seem so urgent today will eventually fade into memory. Even the accomplishments we're most proud of will someday become part of history. This is what brings me to the beginning of a new school year.
Every August, our minds naturally fill with preparation. We think about class lists, lesson plans, schedules, classroom organization, parent communication, and professional development. Administrators think about staffing, school improvement plans, budgets, safety procedures, and the hundreds of details required to launch a successful year. Before the pace of another year sweeps us away, perhaps there is an important question worth asking. What do I want people to remember about me this school year?
Certainly, we all want to do our jobs well. We want our students to grow, our schools to thrive, and our colleagues to know they can depend on us. Excellence honors God, but when students, parents, colleagues, or staff members think back on their interactions with us at the end of this upcoming school year, what do we hope stands out most? Will they primarily recall what we accomplished, or will they remember the character of Christ they experienced through us?
As I reflected on those photographs in the Weaver House, I realized that nearly every description focused on what people did, what they built, the positions they held, or the events in which they participated. Those things certainly mattered, but as Christian educators, shouldn't we hope for something even deeper? What if the description beneath our pictures someday didn't begin with our accomplishments?
Instead of saying, "She had engaging lessons," what if it read, "She loved me on the days I wasn't very lovable."
Instead of, "He was an outstanding administrator," what if someone remembered, "He treated everyone with kindness and respect, no matter who they were."
Perhaps a former student would say, "She always seemed to have joy. Even on the hardest days, there was a peace about her that I couldn't quite explain."
Maybe a colleague would recall, "He was patient when the rest of us were losing ours."
Imagine, years later, someone saying, "There was something different about him/her."
As believers, we know what that difference is. It is Christ living within us.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." What a freeing reminder as we begin another school year. We are not called to manufacture love, patience, kindness, or joy through sheer determination. We are called to surrender ourselves to the One who already lives within us. When Christ lives through us, the fruit of the Spirit naturally begins to appear. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control become more than words we memorize; they become characteristics that others experience through us (Galatians 5:22-23).
Imagine beginning each school day with a simple prayer. "Lord, let my students, colleagues, parents, and everyone I encounter experience You through me today." That one prayer has the power to change the way we approach every conversation, every interruption, every challenge, and every opportunity God places before us.
As you prepare for this new school year, I encourage you to choose one verse that reminds you of your true calling. Write it on a sticky note. Place it inside your lesson planner, tape it beside your computer monitor, or keep it somewhere you'll see it each morning. Before the busyness begins, pause for just a moment and invite Christ to lead your day. Ask the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in you and trust Him to work through every interaction, whether anyone notices it or not.
Years from now, someone may come across an old yearbook, a faded staff photograph, or a class picture with your face in it. They may not remember every lesson you taught, every meeting you led, or every bulletin board you created. Those things, while important in the moment, naturally fade with time. My prayer is that what remains is something far more meaningful. I hope they remember how you made them feel seen, how you extended grace, how you spoke with kindness, and how your life quietly pointed them toward Jesus. If someone were to ask, "What was she like?" or "What kind of man was he?" may the answer reflect not only what we accomplished but also the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that Christ produced in us. When Christ is reflected through us each day, that is a picture worth remembering.
A Prayer for the New School Year
Heavenly Father,
As another school year begins, remind me that my greatest calling is not simply to teach well, lead well, or accomplish more. My greatest calling is to reflect You.
Fill me each day with the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit. When I am tired, be my strength. When I am frustrated, produce patience. When challenges arise, let Your peace guard my heart. May Your love shape every interaction, Your joy shine through every circumstance, and Your kindness point others to You.
Help me remember that every interaction leaves an impression. May those who cross my path this year encounter not merely my ability as an educator but the character of Christ reflected through me. As I walk through classrooms, hallways, offices, cafeterias, playgrounds, and meeting rooms this year, help me represent You well. May my words encourage, my actions reflect Your character, and my life draw others closer to You.
I offer this school year to You. Use me for Your glory. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
If this message encouraged you, you'll find even more practical ways to reflect Christ in your school throughout my book, Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display. Together we'll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can transform the way we teach, lead, and serve every day.
Learn more here: https://www.victoriouseducator.com/taking-jesus-to-school
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