On any given day, I can feel all the feelings ranging from joy to despair, excitement to discouragement, courage to fear and everything in between. Compassion and love weave throughout to lace all the “feels” together.
I am a teacher!
Most days I wrap up the day feeling fulfilled with a sense of having made a small difference. The grumpiest student left with a smile or the light bulb moment appeared in math.
I am a teacher!
On this day, I left heartbroken – tipping the scales toward tears for all the unanswered “whys”. More questions than answers and frustration over situations that cannot be fixed.
On this day, I am a heartbroken teacher!
We have no idea what our students face at home each day when they leave us. We have no idea whether a snack is waiting before homework time let alone if dinner is even a possibility. The questions far outweigh the answers and the unknown can only leave us speculating.
But on this day, reality collided into the questions and the truth spilled out. Our students not only face hunger at home but many other possibilities.
- Single parents struggling with the day to day
- Homelessness that comes at a time when everything else might be falling apart
- Only the floor or perhaps a couch to lay their heads at night
- Parents facing life threatening illnesses
- Uncertainty overtaking every minute everyday
- Emotions that threaten to consume and cause you to lose control because the thought of the future is just that – a thought
On this day, one student lost total control at school, but to him this was the only choice he had because it ultimately helped him to gain the one thing he craved – control. His world is full of many of the things mentioned above-homelessness, a mom who has cancer, dad in and out of his life and emotions that are trapped inside with no way to come out without much support. His answer to all the feelings that he needs to express, but cannot express appropriately was refusal to listen, rage, destroying things in his way and even trying to hurt himself. On this day, he felt he won because many adults around him stopped everything just for him and he gained control. On this day he released all the feelings that most days stay trapped inside.
Release is important. Understanding is crucial. Patience is necessary. Love is a must. But I am a teacher and someone who loves to fix all situations. This is not one that I can fix or make better. But I can pray and release all this to God who is the fixer of all situations.
[Tweet “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me, turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Ps.17:6”]
I can love as God calls us to love. I can extend grace and give this student new mercies each day as God does so lovingly for each of us. I can reassure with my words, love with my heart, provide understanding and let God guide me as I do.
This is what the Lord says:
“Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be rewarded,”
declares the Lord. Jeremiah 31:16
In the middle of the broken, the messiness and the uncertainty, God is working. We may not see it and certainly not understand it, but He has chosen this child, at this time for His glory.
May we all see the beauty in the mess, the glory in the harshness of life and His love as a salve for the open wounds caused by the injustices of the world.
In prayer and peace,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
#DanceWithJesus linkup @susanbmead
Yes. Release. Control. Heartbroken yet able to release God’s blessing upon him and the situation he is faced with every moment of the day.
Thank you for the reminder … Too many kiddos face these situations as their daily reality. Thank you for reminding US to release God’s blessing and favor on His child.
I pray God releases all grace and love for all children as they face such brokenness in their lives. It’s a world that makes my heart sad due to the inequities and heartache that kids must face. Blessed you joined me here Susan! I am praying that your week is blessed.
It is no coincidence that we are neighbors today at Dance with Jesus:) I woke up this morning with the end-of-year blues. I was selfishly thinking, “We still have 5 weeks left of school. Ugh!” Your post is exactly what I needed to remind me that for some of my students, a day with me at school is the only stability they have. Thank you for reminding me of this today, and giving me renewed perspective. I want to be there for them as many days as God brings us together! (I hope you don’t think I was being a horrible teacher, just a little spring fever.) Blessings!!
Oh my I would never think of you or any teacher as horrible because we are human and we see the end in sight and are anxious for it to get here. Trust me I waver everyday between finishing well and just wanting the school year to be over. I am so glad you are my neighbor today because I learned that you are a teacher too and the understanding that you have of what I described is so precious. Praying that you finish well, your students work hard till the end and you can look back knowing you did a good job. Blessings!
Your words are those of a true “Teacher”. I love this inspirational article.
God makes things beautiful.
Many Blessings to you.
Your encouragement is always so sweet and honest. God does make all things beautiful and we see this most often in the redemption of the messy. I pray your weekend is blessed.
What a gem your school is losing as you retire, dear Mary. You see the good in this little boy in a way that is so tender and sweet. And I’m challenged by your perspective to see the hurt beneath the out-of-control behaviors of those who “bump into my happy!” It is the least I can do as a follower of Christ. Hugs to you!
Retiring from teaching will be bittersweet but the lessons that I have learned from students will last me a lifetime. I truly have been blessed to work on a job that not only fulfills but gives me the opportunity to minister to others and I am not just talking about students. Hope your weekend is blessed. Love and hugs!
Mary,
As a 7th grade teacher, I understand your joys and sorrows as you watch interact with these precious children God has given you for a season. Praying He blesses you as you serve Him faithfully.
Thank you Debbie! Your teacher heart and understanding goes along way as we both work to provide our students with all they need at school. Blessed you stopped by and praying we both serve Him faithfully in our teaching.
Oh, Mary! My teacher heart hurts for you. I think all but one of our students fall into two or more of those categories that you list–plus some. Let’s pray for each other to have the compassion, insight and grace to handle those outpourings of anger and despair. May God continue to use you to shine a light of hope in your students’ lives.
How wonderful that we can pray for each other and the students that are both so important to us. I pray that God enters into our classrooms daily and provides us the strength to teach and our students a sense of safety, love and grace. Blessings!
I’m so glad I found your blog on #TellHisStory!
I am a teacher, too! I’m a Christian who teaches in a school with hurting, needy people, myself included! Many of my posts are about teaching because it’s just who I am. God has definitely used my school experiences to teach me many things. I’m looking forward to reading more from you!:)
I appreciate you and your teacher heart. There is so much that a teacher can do and a good friend describes it as her mission field which carries so much truth. I love that you found me today. I actually am at the end of career and will be retiring in June. I hope you will come back for more encouragement.
Hi Mary, Praying for you as you teach and minister to these precious children. I worked for many years with broken kids in children’s homes and I know first hand the pain in their lives. It’s not easy but love and grace go a long way…God will be your guide as you teach them, minister to them and pray for them. Blessings, Tammy
Thank you so much for the prayers. God definitely has been my guide throughout my teaching career and the blessings of this passion have been numerous. I can hear your love for children in your words and it is very encouraging. Praying your weekend is blessed.
Hi Mary! You really are on the front lines, seeing the sadness and need in first person. How overwhelming it must seem sometimes. I am so grateful for teachers like you who are sensitive to the reasons why the students ‘lose it’.
Does your school have a breakfast and/or lunch program? I think those are such a wonderful way to make a real impact. It helps the body and the soul. God bless your work, and your energy to help. Your broken heart will heal, after it creates more room to love. God knows He can use you…
Blessings,
Ceil
My heart breaks every year for my students. God has used me and I am blessed immensely through these relationships but God will be using me in different ways soon as I retire in June.
Our school does have breakfast and lunch but what we really need are counselors to help students work through what is happening in their lives that they just don’t understand. I appreciate you and your gentle,reassuring way of always encouraging me. You are a gem friend!
I just love this “In the middle of the broken, the messiness and the uncertainty, God is working”.
Sometimes I become so overwhelmed by the mess that I can’t see God for it, this has been a great reminder of seeing God in all things – thanks for sharing #RaRaLinkup
Sometimes I feel that we see God better in the messy because it makes us more aware of what is going on. I am praying we see God at all times and in all things but He can certainly teach us in the mess. So blessed by your encouragement and for being here today.
Visiting from #RaRaLinkup today and I just wanted to let you know how much this post means to me. I have a kid from a hard place that is still learning how to deal with feelings and still struggling with manipulation. Many adults he is around have no idea how to deal. Thank you for your Godly approach and your kind heart!
I am praying for that child that peace and understanding enter into his/her heart and also for those adults in his/her life. God does not want broken children and I pray that more may open their hearts to see as God sees-with true love. Blessed you stopped by here. Hope the rest of your week is blessed.
I feel your pain, friend. There are so many whys and so few answers that we can see here. The only thing I know to cling to and hope and pray for is God’s glory to be shown amidst all the brokenness. Love you!!
I know you understand so well everything I am feeling as you feel the same way in your job. Nothing will get me more fired up than kids who are not taken care of and the inability to do anything about it. Praying is the answer and it is a perfect answer. Love you girl and love your encouragement.
Mary, I just want to let you know that God is blessing your work. You are doing great things. I can see your love pour through. I know he will be faithful to all the time you put into loving. These children are so blessed. I love your honest and transparent approach. I was blessed by seeing your heart. Cheering you on from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith
I have a momma’s heart for all children and truly feel like a momma bear fighting for them. There is so much injustice and situations that we have no knowledge of that anything we can do is only going to help. At this time, praying for our world’s children is so important. They are our future. My heart hurts often for my students and other children but God promises grace and love for all and that is what I pray for each day. Thank you for cheering me on each week and for your own understanding heart.
How encouraging is this! Times come when I feel like my prayers fall on deaf ears and here’s a verse answering my questions. 🙂
Have a blessed week!
I am glad that the verse came at the right time. God’s timing is perfect like that!!! Blessed you were here today.