To illustrate the theme of this month’s issue of As a Rule, Sr. Ramona Pandan, MCM, shared a story from her second year of teaching:
“I had a student who was older than his classmates. On the first day of school, he behaved in a way that frightened the others. He kicked the chairs, scattered them across the room, and sat in a corner as if nothing had happened.
“After class, I approached him gently and asked if we could talk. ‘I don’t want anything blocking my way,’ he said. Then I asked softly, ‘What is really bothering you?’ At that moment, he broke down in tears and shared the pain he carried—his father showed him no love, only hardship. He and his younger siblings suffered physical abuse at home.
“When I eventually met his father, I realized he had spoken honestly. From then on, I became someone he could trust. I listened to him, supported him, and showed him the concern and understanding he had never received from his parents. Slowly, his behavior changed. His classmates began to love him because he treated them like younger brothers and sisters.
“Even though his home situation did not change, HE changed. And through that experience, I learned to approach my students with gentleness and love rather than judgment. Many of them carry wounds from circumstances they never chose.
“When we bring Christ’s love to the people we serve—treating them gently and giving them what they need—one truly feels the Spirit of God in our midst. And as I witnessed the healing of this student, I felt my own heart being restored, reminded that love has the power to mend both the giver and the receiver.”
Sr. Ramona is a part of the pastoral team serving our Dehonian ministries in South Dakota; she is pictured above (with flowers) celebrating her birthday in January. Click here to read Sr. Ramona’s full reflection, as well as one written by Fr. Tom Garvey, SCJ, in 1993 (d. 2002).
