Kim took a sip of tea and refocused, determined to finish grading this batch of essays. They’d only been back in school a week since Christmas break, and already she was falling behind, but after a full day today that would no longer be the case. Her New Year’s resolution was to get up early on Saturdays, catch up on grading and lesson plans and have the rest of the weekend for other things.

            She opened the folder, curious to see what her students deemed to be worthy of their New Year’s resolutions. This was her first year teaching at the Christian school after 5 years at the public school and it would be interesting to see if there was a difference in how the kids approached this topic.

            Madison Adams. Straight-A student, class president, member of the debate team and who knows what else. Kim could predict what this essay would say.

            “The new year. A time to focus on new beginnings and new achievements and goals. I have many goals for 2021, but my resolution is to focus on excelling in my classwork for the upcoming semester and put together an amazing application package so I can be accepted into…”

            Kim smiled. Madison’s resolution was to get into a good college. That was no surprise. With the girl’s brains and dedication, that wouldn’t be a problem for her. Kim made her way through the essay, corrected a few minor errors in grammar, and recorded the usual A in her grading program.

            After another sip of tea, she moved down the list. Cara Boothwyn. A sweet, likeable girl, she had a beautiful singing voice and often soloed in the school choir.

            “My resolution this year is unfortunately the same as last year. I’ve always struggled with my weight. I’m sure I didn’t get the lead in the musical because I don’t look like a lead. I’m going to focus on losing weight until September, and then for senior year, I’ll try out again.”

            Kim shook her head. She could relate. She’d struggled with maintaining her weight for as long as she could remember. She jotted note to pray for Cara and set up an appointment next week to have a chat with her about her value in God’s eyes, no matter what the world said.

            She recorded Cara’s grade, made her way through a few more essays, and stood and stretched. She warmed her tea in the microwave and came back to her chair, ready for the next student in the alphabet. Dylan Kelly.

            Dylan was different from the other students in her 11th grade English class. He was new to the Christian Academy. Dylan was fostered by the Grants, a local family who had taken him in early in the summer and enrolled him when school started.

           Dylan had been a topic of conversation in the faculty lunchroom more than once. He wasn’t the typical Christian Academy student. His language left a lot to be desired and he was known to cut class. He’d been suspended for a week in the fall for smoking in the boy’s bathroom. The teachers were concerned about his influence on the other students, but Kim found him intriguing. Without a Christian background, Dylan asked questions about Biblical topics the other kids could answer in their sleep. Still, Kim always encouraged his questions, glad he was engaged.

            His writing abilities were poor compared to his peers, but that was likely due to gaps in his education. According to his record, he’d been in six different schools in the last five years. Kim prayed he’d be able to stay put until graduation. The Grants had to be a good influence on him. Strict, but caring. Exactly what Dylan needed.

            Kim stopped her musing and clicked open Dylan’s essay. What she read left her in tears.

            “I never wrote a New Year’s resolution essay before. Maybe nobody ever asked me, or maybe I never turned one in. I never had any resolutions before. This year, I have one.

            Life’s been bad. I ain’t trying to get sympathy points for a better grade, just telling it like it is. My mom’s in jail and I never met my dad. I got passed around to family members for a while, but nobody wanted me. I didn’t want them either. I learned pretty quick I was on my own, so I never got attached to any one place. They ran out of relatives and put me in the foster system a couple of years ago, but no one wants the problem teen who is a bad influence on their own kids.

            Then the Grants took me in. I didn’t make it easy on them. I ignored their rules and almost ran away a couple times, but they were always nice to me. They included me in everything. They took me to the beach and to an amusement park over the summer. Yeah, their rules are stupid. They got me a phone, but have this ridiculous blocking program on it. I have a curfew, and they make me go to church every week. Still, Pete told me he’d teach me to drive if I kept going.

            Anyway, my resolution this year is to stay in one place. I’m going to be the best I can be, cause I don’t want to get thrown out again. Something’s different about them. I’m still trying to figure out this God thing, but I think that might be the difference.”

God, in this new year, please help us to show Your light to others. Help us love them the way You love them, so they can see the difference in us. It’s easy to judge those who are different or don’t behave the way we think they should, but You love everyone, and we should too. Thank You for a fresh year and a fresh start.