Supply and Demand

by Vicki Caruana

If you were reimbursed for teaching materials, you’d be rich. ~ Kimberly Chambers

Each school year has its own ebb and flow. In my experience, the flow turns into a slow trickle sometime around the end of February. Not only does our enthusiasm wane, so do our supplies! My husband is still mystified that there isn’t some secret supply closet for teachers to go to when they run out of copy paper, pencils, crayons, construction paper, chalk or dry-erase markers, legal pads, index cards, envelopes, and anything else you might find in a school—including toilet paper!

At the end of each school year, I tried desperately to project (within my allotted budget, that is) what supplies I would need to carry us through the next school year. Everything—down to paper clips and Scotch tape—had to be itemized in the budget. When the supplies came in at the beginning of the year (if it all came in), we carefully distributed the appropriate number of supplies to each teacher. Since teachers are very territorial by nature, any mistake in distribution, no matter how slight, could result in frustration, lost items, and mayhem!

I remember a time when I ended up with one more box of staples than I ordered. As a beginning teacher, I did not realize the severe ramifications of such an oversight. I was happily organizing my supplies in my classroom when I heard a not-so-friendly “Ah-hem!” from behind. I turned to see one of my colleagues, her supply invoice and red pen in one hand and the other extended in expectation.

“I think you have something that belongs to me,” she said with a snarl.

“I don’t think so,” I replied in complete ignorance. Whoever said ignorance is bliss?

“Let me see your invoice,” she said, her extended hand now grasping in desperation.“Certainly,” I said. I handed her my invoice and continued to stack my supplies.

“Aha!” she exclaimed in triumph. “If my calculations are correct, and I’m sure they are, you’ve stacked one too many boxes of staples, young lady.”

I guess my inexperience combined with my charming personality didn’t matter. I counted the staples for myself and discovered, much to my dismay, that I did indeed have one box too many. I removed the box from the neatly organized shelf and handed it over gingerly, afraid my hand was going to be slapped.

"I’m sorry,” I said with complete humility. “I just assumed the supplies had been correctly distributed.”

“Next time, make sure you only have what you ordered and not someone else’s property!” The teacher then stormed out of my classroom.

I looked at the invoice in my hand and then at my supply cabinet. I’d started the day with eight boxes of staples and a concern they wouldn’t be enough. Now I had only seven and an angry new colleague.

I don’t think anyone has ever explained the principle of supply and demand to educators. Teachers’ school supplies never seem to meet their demands. We are so concerned with whether our physical needs are met that often we put those concerns above all else. But while our supplies may seem to come from the district warehouse, ultimately, we have what we have because God has given it to us.

When your supplies dwindle and you are scrambling to make do with what’s left, know that God has already equipped you perfectly for the very work He has prepared for your hands—give or take one box of staples.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19, NIV