I am sure I’ve added to the American childhood obesity epidemic.
Once upon a time, I used to be a middle school teacher. In retrospect I might have chosen differently, but I used methods that worked.
On certain days I would toss candy at any kid in my class who would volunteer for anything: answering a question, reading aloud, helping a friend. Anything.
Erase the board? Here’s a package of Sweet Tarts.
Collect the papers? Catch the Tootsie Roll.
What’s an adverb? Here’s a mini Snickers.
Kids whose heads yesterday bobbed with the in-class sleepiness that plagues most eighth graders, today would shoot hands up to beg to volunteer for everything, anything. Although motivated by external forces of sugar and sour candy, this was an example of enthusiasm at its best.
It motivated them to action. So simple. Candy: the currency of 12- and 13-year-olds everywhere.
I’m sitting here at 6:26 at night with my penciled in, crossed out, erased and rewritten list of things to do, most of them computer or writing related. I’m motivated to work right now only because I’m behind.
No one is throwing me chocolate.
I’m behind on returning emails. I’m behind on a few promised writing projects I’m behind on longer-term projects that have a cushion, so because of that I’m pushing them to the back of my list. I’m behind on short term projects that I’m simply pushing to the end of my day.
I’m working hard tonight because I must. I’m not happy about it; I’m just leaning hard into my to-do list to see how much I can actually knock off before I fall asleep.
I’m motivated but I’m not enthusiastic.
But I don’t want to be this way. I don’t want to HAVE to do things, I want to WANT to do things.
My eighth-graders were somewhere in between motivation and zeal, but nonetheless, the candy changed the whole mood of the classroom.
I need something to put before me, either physically or metaphorically, that will change the mood of my heart. Something, like the hurled sugar, will motivate me to enthusiasm about the things I need to do. I don’t just want to be motivated by a deadline. I want to be passionate.
Type type type at the computer. What’s my reason for joy? Clean out my inbox. What is my zeal, my passion? Write tomorrow’s blog post. Why am I doing this?
I need to set it in front of me, like an uneaten Hershey bar. Why do I continue?
I’m doing it for Him. And for you. And for my family.
I’m doing it for the joy that comes from hearing one more story from one of you. Hearing another story about restoration, redemption, reconciliation. For the sweet friendships that come from community. I’m doing it because God’s given me the desire to create through writing and if I stop, I dishonor Him. I work because He’s asked me to and He’s given me opportunity. I’m grateful for that. I’m motivated because I want to be an example for my daughters and a solid wife for my husband. I want to continue to grow and learn and change. I need to — for them.
So when I’m tired and all I want to do is to take a nap as my inbox number climbs and climbs, I need to remember that my zeal should come from what (or WHO) I’m working for.
And it’s not chocolate.
What (or WHO) are you working for?
Good question. And I know how you feel. (I think.)
Motivating myself has been a lifelong problem for me. I know I need to remember who each little task is for and why I’m putting my hand to each project.
Isn’t it funny how similar each one of our life stories are when we bring it down to the most basic level? We all struggle with the same things. Coincidence? I think not;)
It is the same desire of my heart to WANT to do things and not just do them because I have to. I want to be passionate about doing the Lord’s work, and it’s all the Lord’s work!
I also feel like I need something to change the mood of my heart. I have been feeling like I want to go on a missions trip to a third world country. I have been thinking about how it would change MY heart and how it would make ME different. As if poor people are there for me to learn to appreciate my life. How selfish am I? No wonder I don’t have passion!! I need to be prepared to minister to OTHER people, God’s people who need to hear the gospel and be encouraged in Him. It’s not about me, needing to be refreshed, it’s about doing God’s work. It’s about His Son dying on the cross for me and defeating death, that I may live eternally with Him. When I take that truth for granted is when I lose my passion.
Thank you for being such a blessing!
I will be praying for you, for your continued passion and your continued faithfulness in doing the Lord’s work.
Love-Oly
wow. thank you oly. =)
First of all, I REMEMBER THAT! It made you cool. (Of course I didn’t need much convincing.)
Second of all, I found a picture of us on the last day of school! Crazy.
LOVE YOU Mrs. Markley… ha!
i only have five letters for you:
NSYNC
that is all.
=)
I am normal. Sometimes I do things because I am accountable and really only for that reason. Sometimes I do things for the Lord and expect nothing from anyone on this earth – although chocolate would be a nice bonus. But, I struggle with being gracious when my work for the Lord is …disrespected…unnoticed is ok…but, actually actively trounced or by ignorance and self-centerness, it is disregarded as part of me. To explain, I have trouble being gracious when I find my work is UNdone, or someone is making it HARDER for me. This is where I struggle. When I do something out of love for Lord and family and someone presents a downer (whining over a blessing not quite to perfection in their mind) or un-does it (dismantles my newly ordered area with no thought of restoring it after use)…particularly for their own self-centered reasons or ignorance. This dance is motherhood….children are very self-centered and needy and this is WHAT THEY DO. So – the onus is on me with the Lord help. He teaches me so much through motherhood. Jesus was awesome with his disciples. I love the book, “Jesus on Parenting”.
i haven’t heard of that one. i’ll have to look it up. thank you.
Hi Sarah,
Do you think human nature requires occassional “perks” to periodically add enthusiasium to the routine reasons that motivate us with our jobs in order to keep that passion alive as we work? I enjoy chocolates… but also enjoy choosing from an assorted box to keep my taste buds excited. Maybe we as humans require a better balance of work and work perks in order to enable our passion for our work to remain alive. Perhaps, our zeal for what of ‘WHOM’ we are working for would remain naturally passionate if we balance it just a bit with some work perks of our own choosing. I’m sure each of us would differ when picking an assortment of work perks that we could throw to ourselves. Just adding some additional food for thought!
Bless you Sarah for your work, as I certainly appreciate the time you took for sharing this thought provoking piece of chocolate you just threw to me!!!
absolutely. i love the natural “perks” of life.
sometimes i just wish they were more often. =)
It so doesn’t take much to motivate middle schoolers for a second–does it? I notice though, that they too lack the motivation to continue with the bigger picture. Honestly, some of the kids in my classroom don’t even seem to have goals. That’s when it’s up to me to motivate and encourage with my words, I can pick them up with a vote of confidence, a word of encouragement, a funny little saying…and they reflect and it might change things for a minute. My hope is that over the course of the year, they’ll take all those encouraging words to their core and do great things with the rest of their lives–
As for me. . .your words continue to cause me to think, reason, and act. Thank you!
janene – i understand. and sometimes i wonder what my life would be like if i was still teaching in the classroom.
and thanks for your kind words. =)
Hang in there. You do a wonderful job! Some days I am sure it is tough to continue…I pray you do! You always lift me up!
Thank you Mary.=)
I’m with Janene – sometimes all it takes to motivate a classroom is the promise of a reward – movie on Friday, pizza party, chocolate, the list goes on. Sometimes all it takes to motivate a single student is knowing that someone (me-the teacher) truly cares about them and their life. A little note on a returned paper, a word of encouraging wisdom (come to think about it, who am I to offer encouraging “wisdom” when I still searching for my own?)
As for motivating you, I know I can’t motivate you with chocolate, but please know that you are the first place I go to in the morning (even before coffee) and I can’t imagine you not being there :O)
Thank you so much.
I have a dear friend and colleague whose passed away this week. Her life’s mission statement was “to make God smile.” And so this week, I think of her seeing His smile, face-to-face, and I think this is why i do what I do.
I want my King to smile.
Thanks for the awesome thoughts.
You’ll be pleased (?) to know that candy works to engage/motivate college students too.
A great reminder. Thanks for sharing it.
Redemption, reconciliation, and restoration…three of my favorite R words.
On a lighter note, maybe you do need chocolate.
Hey, it still motivates me! And I’m sure many of us would be willing to come over and throw chocolates at you haha 
I have to warn you, though, my aim is terrible haha.
This fits right in with what I’ve been reading lately (for school) about the Spiritual Disciplines. Trying to live by the SDs without the end result in sight makes it feel fruitless and futile.
At the same time, I know I am SOOO much more likely to do something if I know there’s an immediate reward (or consequence) for doing so.