What I Taught My Teacher

By Lawrence J. Wynder

My English teacher has a habit of taking the Lord’s name in vain whenever there is a distraction in the class. One day I approached her privately after class and said, “I feel very uncomfortable when you say God’s name when someone disturbs you while you’re talking. Maybe you could use other words, but I feel very uncomfortable when people say His name that way around me.”

My English teacher thanked me for coming to talk to her, but she said she would have to think about it. After that week, she didn’t profane the Lord’s name for a long time, except once or twice when the word would just come out of her mouth, but I understood how hard it is not to make a mistake again when it is a habit. I realized how important it is to spend time with people to let them know what your standards are. Never be ashamed of doing what is right, because there’s always someone that stands on your side. I was so grateful to see this change in my English teacher. Not only does she not use the Lord’s name, but I realized that her attitude has changed, too.

As it says in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” I won’t ever feel ashamed of asking people to not misuse our Heavenly Father’s name, because it is sacred. We should always stand up for our standards, and for our Heavenly Father, because of the blessings and courage that He gives us.