It’s Not Your Fault, But…

I’m currently in my hometown of High Hill, MO. Reason being, spending a few days with my folks, but I’ve also been asked to keynote for my alma mater. This evening, I’ll be speaking at the National Honor Society induction ceremony at Montgomery County R-2 High School.

As it turns out, one of my best friends since the fourth grade, John Woods, will be introducing me tonight. John is now a membber of the school board and, well, who’d have thunk we’d be in these positions now? Certainly not me!

John and I were reminiscing yesterday about our growing up years. He reminded me that Mr. Brake, our 8th grade health teacher, is retiring. 8th grade health included sex education, so this class is forever cemented in my mind!

When Mr. Brake was recently honored for his years of teaching service, John shared one of his memories from the 8th grade. Went a little something like this…

Mr. Brake arrives to class in a very, very bad mood. Before he begins to teach, he tells the students, “Guys, I don’t feel good. I’m in a bad mood. I don’t want to be here. Just be aware. It’s not your fault, but it is your problem…”

First off, I’m really happy Woods chose to share this memory with our former teacher-I think educators live for those types of memories of influence on their former students. Second, look at that maturity! Mr. Brake stated up front that he didn’t feel right, gave the class a warning that he wasn’t himself and told them they were not to blame-but the warning still stood: “It’s not your fault, but it is your problem.”

So often, people get in bad moods and blame it on others-usually people who had nothing to do with it whatsoever. This was not the case. We’d all be a lot better off when bad moods strike to say to those around us, “It’s not your fault, but it is your problem.”