A teacher’s decision to include a troubled boy in his class leads to healing, belonging, and transformation through compassion, highlighting the power of love in trauma-affected communities.
Rami* wasn’t the kind of kid teachers hope to have in their class. In fact, no one really wanted him. Even the other students recognized him as a trouble maker.
So when Rami tugged on Mr. Leo’s* arm and asked, “can I join your class?” Mr. Leo hesitated, concerned that having Rami in his class would undo all the progress he’d made with the other boys.
Immediately, a still, small, voice reminded him why he’d come to this MENA country in the first place–not simply to teach, but to live out the love of God in a community gutted by a violent history of conflict. Mr. Leo knew that if anyone needed to know that they were part of God’s family, it was this student.
“Of course you can join us, Rami,” Mr. Leo replied with a smile–and a silent prayer for wisdom.
Rami was drawn into the group as someone who belonged and it wasn’t long before people began commenting on the positive changes in his behavior. When the class took a group picture, the students gathered around to admire themselves and several of them pointed out in excitement, “Look, Rami’s smiling! We’ve never seen him smile!”
Rami leaned in as Mr. Leo enveloped him in a big hug. Looking up into his teacher’s eyes, he whispered, “you are the first person who ever gave me hug”--and Mr. Leo knew he’d made the right decision.
*not their real names