Like many of us, my life is marked by ups and downs, like a roller coaster ride. But thanks to God, whom I have chosen as my Ideal in life, He has always been the basis for any decision I make.

When I started work as a public school teacher, I discovered countless opportunities to manifest my love for God by concretely loving my pupils, co-teachers, staff, and even parents. For instance, I start my day with a simple gesture like offering a warm greeting with a smile when I meet someone on my way to the classroom. One thing that I tried to do since the start is to build a good relationship with the parents of my pupils, and even with those whose children do not belong to my class anymore.

Last January 2022, I received a memorandum that I would no longer be handling Kindergarten class. Instead, I would be assigned to a Grade 3 class. Due to classroom scarcity, the classroom previously assigned to me was offered to the newly hired teacher. There I felt that all the efforts I had put into improving that classroom were suddenly wasted.

One day, when I came back to school from my regional training, I discovered that the modules and books I had left in one of the classrooms were put in the stockroom by a teacher assigned to this classroom without informing me. It hurt me when some parents came to me and told me about this colleague’s ill-feelings toward me, hearing her make unpleasant comments about me. Since there was no classroom assigned to me yet, I thought she would understand why I had kept the modules and some other things in her room. I felt so disappointed and down. I even thought that everyone was conspiring against me. First, my classroom, and now, these things. Negative thoughts welled up within me. I wanted to confront this teacher and tell her to her face that I was upset about what she had done! But then, I remembered what I learned from Chiara Lubich, “that the pursuit of every ideal, while bringing great joy, also demands commitment, effort and also suffering.” In silence, I closed my eyes, recognizing this suffering as an occasion to recommit myself to living the ideal of unity by loving concretely. I stayed quiet, headed to the stockroom, started picking up my things, and arranged the modules and books.

I believe that when one loves with a pure heart, everything will cooperate for the good of all. To my surprise, the school staff, including the teachers who saw what I was doing, came to help me. Amid all this, my school head arrived. She came to me and said kind words that comforted me. I felt how everyone was trying to lighten my burden. I was moved and speechless. It was like I was given a big and warm group hug, I felt loved.

The next day, I had the chance to meet with the teacher who caused the discomfort that I went through. Initially, I felt a little nervous approaching her, but I gathered all my courage, and inside me, I decided to see her with “new eyes,” putting aside all the thoughts I had on her. I greeted her politely, and a joyful conversation followed between us. Everyone who witnessed what happened was surprised, seeing the relationship between us restored. This simple circumstance made me realize that, indeed, Jesus is present in every event of my life, be it joyful or painful. Nothing escapes His love!

At the start of this adventure of being a teacher, I was certain that I could be an instrument of unity in the school where I was assigned, and true enough, Jesus has given me this chance so that by living concretely his commandment to love, I can contribute, even in my own small way, so that his prayer for unity, “that all may be one,” may be realized.

Sheryll Fernandez