A year later.

Where to begin...

I am now a Multiage teacher - teaching Kindergarten, First, and Second grade and this is my niche. These friends, this age group, this is my passion. I love their innocence, their excitement for learning, and their funny laughs and quirks. They are called beloved. They are the Lord's delight and I get the pleasure of being with them every. single. day. Praise.

I wish I took the time to write down the funny things my little friends say and do - every day.

For instance, being in the middle of teaching math to my Kindergartners and seeing one of my girls take her  boot off and begin spitting, not just a quick spit, but the slow drippy kinda spit, right into her shoe. Who does that?!

Another time during Social Studies I begin teaching and all of a sudden another teacher walked in the room holding a shoe by the laces. The owner of the shoe (a 5 year old) looked up at her and exclaimed, "Oh! That's my shoe!" Never mind the fact that he had just walked across the hallway and sat down on the carpet...and still did not realize he was wearing only one shoe. A day in the life of a kindergartner - so carefree and void of all worry.

So many other hilarious moments have happened this year. This season has been glorious. So full of compassion and faithfulness from a God that has not ever and will not ever change in His perfect character. Looking back, last year was filled with trial after trial after trial yet full of a strength and will to go on that was not my own. While this year has been glorious, there have still been times of testing. Each time the Lord proves faithful.

I remember a specific moment from last year when a 4th grader, in anger and in a thirst for attention, called me a name that screams all things negative. The mother of all cuss words. He was instantly written up and sent out of my room but my confidence as a teacher was shot. I had spent two days a week after school, for months, tutoring and pouring my heart and soul into loving this same child and had seen a totally different heart. He wanted to learn, was respectful, and kind to others. How could he lash out like this? What did I do wrong? These  thoughts lingered and still linger if I really take the time to meditate on the situation. He yearned and still yearns for attention when I see him, now as a fifth grader, crying out for some sort of attention, most of the time it is negative.

Yet, he is just one. 

He is just one child in my school crying out for attention. I know in his heart of hearts he, they, want to feel approval, unconditional love, and acceptance. If only he could internalize that he has these things so readily available to him in a God who came entering a town riding on a donkey. A God of peace and restoration. 

Father God. Abba. Would you rock the world of this sweet school with a thickness of Your Presence? Cover these little friends and teachers with the knowledge that they are loved tremendously and use me as You wish. Father, let me walk in Your Light and let me not stray. Redeem these children in Your Name. Let Your will be done and let Heaven fall. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Heaven fall down.

Let it be.