A hard lesson, or two.

It's been a long time since I've been on here.  I suppose sometimes I wish I could just think my thoughts into the screen, mash post (yes, mash), and release droplets of my soul into the web.  

This is my first year teaching and I am learning.  I think I learn more from my students than they from me.  It is an undeniable stress to bear the responsibility of teenage minds, characters, education, actions, and choices.  I believe I have a vague, blurry understanding of what parenthood might be like.  That is a scary thought.

My natural response to stress, mind you... is to wrap up in survival mode.  Like a turtle, my home is inside, away from the elements, waiting for the right time to emerge.  But I can't.  It's not about me.  It's never been about me.

 It is freedom and responsibility wrapped and twisted around like yellow and white string cheese.

They watch closely...listening to my responses, my tone.  The intonation in my voice clues them into the secrets of communication.  I teach.
My heart has been hurting lately for my students.  How do I guide them in the right way?  What do they need to grow academically?  What of their character...what else can I teach?

Am I living and breathing the model that I would want replicated?  It is a new daily challenge.




I have also come to the conclusion that the hardest thing to accept is the apology one will never receive.

Including the one from yourself.

My favorite line:  I make mistakes, but I own them and learn from them.  Sometimes I make a lot of mistakes.

-Isaiah 40 (The Message) 'paraphrased'

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?

Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.