In my early 20s, I was a day laborer on a construction crew. We did general contracting in private homes. It was hard and arduous work – but at the end of the day, you would leave the job site knowing that you had made a difference. You could literally see and touch the difference. There wasn’t a room there at the beginning of the day, now there is; that wall had been white, now it’s blue! 

11 years ago, I stepped into teaching. 

When you’re teaching, there are times when you feel like you are putting your best foot forward, and yet the students are sitting there, practically drooling. There are times when you try and try, but it seems like you are spinning your wheels, getting no traction. 

Longing for Fruit

I have lamented to my principal, on more than one occasion, “I just want to see something positive come from my effort. I’m ready for some fruit!” 

I would think back on my days on the construction crew,  how we would leave a job site with the efforts of the day evident. There was never any doubt as to what we had accomplished. 

In the classroom, it doesn’t often feel like this.

She would patiently remind me, “We are seed planters. Waterers.”

I know. But it can still be hard.

A Glimpse of the Harvest

This past summer, I had the opportunity to be the speaker for a week of Leadership Development at New Life Ranch. These leadership programs, which many of our high school students attend, are designed to help teens develop into servant leaders on fire for God. 

In her final year of Leadership Development, Vanessa courageously shared her testimony.   

On Sunday evening, I went into the worship service and was taken aback. There, standing in the front row, was one of our recent graduates, Jeremy, eyes closed, hands raised, joining his group of 6th graders in song.

I chose a seat behind him, smiling uncontrollably. 

Then, I looked up on the stage to see one of our rising seniors standing, a young woman I have taught since 8th grade, microphone in hand, leading a group of over 250 1st-6th graders as they worshiped and lifted a praise to the LORD. 

I wept uncontrollably. 

I sat and scribbled in my journal, 

“LORD, thank you for the growth you’ve shown in my students. Thank you that I get to see fruit.”

The Joy of Reaping

As I walked away from the evening’s chapel service, I pondered out loud, “If that is all the reason I am here, if that is the only moment I get – it is enough. Thank you.”

Timothy Team Campers trek 22 miles over three days along the Buffalo River. 

God took my gratitude and multiplied it. 

As I stood up on stage, ready to share what the Spirit had laid on my heart, I looked out and saw my students, their eager faces. 

As I interacted with summer staff and full-time staff alike and told them I work at Cookson, they were quick to compliment and hold up my students, bragging on their seriousness. Their work ethic. Their understanding of Scripture. Their desire to grow. Their leadership. 

As I walked through the camp, as I sat in the dining hall, as I spent my week at that special place… time after time, over and over, the LORD showed me yet another piece of fruit.

God’s Gentle Reminder

I have shared with my teaching team here that I believe our ministry is described in Jesus’ teaching in Samaria in John 4:34-38.

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest! Even now, the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus, the saying, ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Often, I find we are the ones who sow, and we leave our students to be reaped by another. 

But this summer at New Life Ranch, I had the opportunity to experience fruit. And it was amazing. 

About the Author: Josh Curry has been the Bible Teacher here at Cookson Hills since 2016. He loves his family and enjoys deer hunting, distance running, and finding OT references in the NT.