Her Unadulterated Smile

Ali Nooner | February 2009

She started our first class with a prayer, a prayer that we would become passionate and use the gifts we have to glorify the One who bestowed them upon us. I looked up and she was smiling—it was a contagious smile, an unadulterated smile. For some reason I knew this class would be different.

At first I thought that difference was going to be difficult because I heard that she required a rigorous and lengthy homework schedule. But when she talked, she was compassionate, understanding and genuine—it was refreshing. This teacher became the one who instilled a passion for service in my life because she herself was pursuing a life dedicated to serving others. As a Christian, having salvation in Christ should produce the fruit of good works and in that first class I realized that I wanted my life to be a service.

She taught me that, as a Christian, serving is the most important way to express love to others and to serve Christ. I have decided that if I wanted to see change then I would have to be that change. I am stepping out of my box and realizing the beauty, the need, the service, the love, and the opportunities of God's world. I sincerely believe that God has given me this purpose and dream for my life and I am trying to fulfill that every day. My teacher provided me the opportunity to discover my purpose.

Ali Nooner is a senior year education major at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL.