I Wonder How It Felt….
When I was in elementary Sunday school, we would sing, “I Wonder
How It Felt.”* The lyrics refer to Bible
stories that were familiar to me, even as a child.
I wonder how it felt to wake up in
the belly of a whale.
I wonder how it felt to spend the
night with Paul and Silas in the jail.
I wonder how it felt to meet big
Goliath in the field.
The list goes on…, but the chorus is really what I want you
to think about today. The chorus, (paraphrased)
I am just a child, my life is here before me, I just cannot wait to see what
God has for me, and trusting Him in the wait to see what life will be for me.
You may be asking yourself…Why am I reading this? Or thinking, I don’t have time for nonsense! But, HOLD ON…Now that you know the background,
stay with me for a couple more minutes.
The other day, this song unexpectedly popped into my head. At first, I thought that there was absolutely
no reason for me to think of this song. Then,
I realized that there was most definitely a reason. As our office began to be busier and busier, I
was so busy seeing student after student that I failed to ‘wonder how it felt’
to be that student.
Have you ever wondered how it feels to be a student sitting across the
desk from you?
Have you ever wondered how it feels to wonder whom, or where, your
parents are?
Have you ever wondered what that
student has seen that you could not begin to imagine?
Have you ever wondered how it feels
to have no running water, or indoor toilet?
Have you ever wondered how it feels
to go hungry? **
I grew up in rural Alabama. Most of the kids at my school
thought my family was rich. We were low
middle class at best, but we were rich in love.
I never had to worry that I would not have running water (well, except
for that big snowstorm and frozen pipes).
I never had to worry about having parents that loved me
unconditionally. I never had to worry
about leaving my house to go to an outhouse.
Believe it or not, in the 80s and 90s I had friends that used a well for
water, and an outhouse.
I say all of this to say: the chair that is currently sitting empty in
your office is filled with the ‘feels and felts’ of many students.
The question is – When a student leaves your office, does s/he know that s/he
is a student and life
is just before her/him?
can put her/his trust in you, self, and the
institution?
can’t wait to walk across that stage with degree in hand,
knowing that success knows no bounds?
Today, I challenge you to ‘wonder how it feels’ to be the people that encounter you. Remind them, and yourself:
“If you think you are
beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don't,
If you like to win, but you think you can't
It is almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!”
“Thinking” or “The Man Who Thinks He Can” by
Walter Wintle
*I did not recall who wrote this song, so I ‘Googled’ it. “I Wonder How it Felt” by the Gaither Vocal
Band.
I have never heard them actually sing this song. My mom would just play this on the piano out
of her children’s book.
**During the SASFAA Conference, the 2019 SASFAA Charities
are Mimi’s Pantry, Coastal Carolina University Food Pantry, and the
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Food Pantry, let’s all come together to
support these food pantries so that others don’t have to know how it feels to
go hungry. https://www.sasfaa.org/charity2019
Stephanie Miller
sdmiller@getfasolutions.com
2018-19 AASFAA President
