Our student-athletes had planned a fundraiser at the Chandler Chick-Fil-A. The proceeds were to help pay for their athletic uniforms. However, somewhere between the time we established the date and the actual event, an earthquake devastated the country of Haiti. Unbeknown to me, our students were desiring to help but were not quite sure how to go about it. Then it was decided in a meeting with all the student athletes. Why don’t we give a portion of the proceeds to the earthquake victims of Haiti?

Let’s be honest- not every teenager thinks this way. They think about their social status, their cell phone, their hair, and so many other things- but not usually others. This was when God said to me, “Yes, it’s worth it! It’s working!” Friend, remember that “soon this life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

For some reason, extracting the square roots of large numbers was more difficult than expected. For forty minutes or so, I labored to explain and demonstrate the proper method in square root extraction. The process can be very tedious. Attention to detail is necessary. Patience is definitely helpful. Yesterday was undoubtedly one of the harder days for this class.

I wonder how we’re doing when it comes to “extracting potential” from our students. It can be frustrating at times, at the very least difficult. Yet like square roots, it can be tedious, attention to detail is needed but our patience will yield our desired fruit! Satan is as a roaring lion, seeking to devour our young people. We must do all that we can, by God’s grace, to show our students that they are loved by God and that He desires to use the potential He has instilled in each and everyone of them.

Today, my students came in with a little trepidation because of yesterday’s experience. I very patiently demonstrated the method again, making sure they understood each step. Then it happened- the light bulb came on! The smile on their faces made my day as they realized where they were stumbling and made the necessary adjustments to properly extract square roots. And that’s just math!

Imagine the eternal impact when we learn to extract the potential out of our students. So don’t delay and start today and witness the effect one young person can have when they wholly yield their life to Christ!