Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
School starts in the morning.
For some (namely students), the mere mention of summer coming to its official end is enough to cause panic or an emotional breakdown. For me on the other hand, it is an event met with giddiness and delightful anticipation.
Now, before you label me a weirdo (or a liar) there's something you should know. My excitement over the new school year does not stem from the fact that I'm a nerd or that I get paid really well (ha!) or that I just love my job (although that is a true statement...and maybe so is the nerd thing). Truthfully, my excitement has everything to do with one simple truth...
I love new beginnings!
I always have. I love the idea of a clean slate or fresh start. This is true for many things in my life, including the new school year, moving to a new city or home, and especially the promise that God's mercies are new every morning.
One of the things I try to do every year is forget what I thought I knew the year before.
I know, that's a strange thing for a teacher to say. What I mean is that I try to erase all the rumors and impressions and even encounters that I had with my students the previous school year. Maybe I had them in class and they weren't as well-behaved as I would have liked. Or maybe I overheard talk of things they did on the weekend. Or maybe it was simply my perception that they didn't try as hard, academically, as I thought they could or should. Regardless of the situation and regardless of the student, I do my best to give them a clean start the following August.
Why?
Because that's what my Heavenly Father does for me. Every. Single. Day.
Do I deserve it? No. Do I understand it? Not really. Do I relish it and strive to extend even just a portion of the same grace to others? Absolutely.
After five years of teaching high schoolers, I've learned something. They won't remember much of my class syllabus or lectures. They won't remember all the test questions (if any) or how cute my classroom was. They may not remember which entrepreneur or playwright they researched, but maybe - hopefully - they'll remember a teacher who modeled Christ.
That is my prayer on the eve of the 2012-2013 year. Lord, let your light shine through me, help me point these precious young people to you and may I be full of mercy and grace as I gratefully accept yours. Great is your faithfulness!
School starts in the morning.
For some (namely students), the mere mention of summer coming to its official end is enough to cause panic or an emotional breakdown. For me on the other hand, it is an event met with giddiness and delightful anticipation.
Now, before you label me a weirdo (or a liar) there's something you should know. My excitement over the new school year does not stem from the fact that I'm a nerd or that I get paid really well (ha!) or that I just love my job (although that is a true statement...and maybe so is the nerd thing). Truthfully, my excitement has everything to do with one simple truth...
I love new beginnings!
I always have. I love the idea of a clean slate or fresh start. This is true for many things in my life, including the new school year, moving to a new city or home, and especially the promise that God's mercies are new every morning.
One of the things I try to do every year is forget what I thought I knew the year before.
I know, that's a strange thing for a teacher to say. What I mean is that I try to erase all the rumors and impressions and even encounters that I had with my students the previous school year. Maybe I had them in class and they weren't as well-behaved as I would have liked. Or maybe I overheard talk of things they did on the weekend. Or maybe it was simply my perception that they didn't try as hard, academically, as I thought they could or should. Regardless of the situation and regardless of the student, I do my best to give them a clean start the following August.
Why?
Because that's what my Heavenly Father does for me. Every. Single. Day.
Do I deserve it? No. Do I understand it? Not really. Do I relish it and strive to extend even just a portion of the same grace to others? Absolutely.
After five years of teaching high schoolers, I've learned something. They won't remember much of my class syllabus or lectures. They won't remember all the test questions (if any) or how cute my classroom was. They may not remember which entrepreneur or playwright they researched, but maybe - hopefully - they'll remember a teacher who modeled Christ.
That is my prayer on the eve of the 2012-2013 year. Lord, let your light shine through me, help me point these precious young people to you and may I be full of mercy and grace as I gratefully accept yours. Great is your faithfulness!
1 comments:
Love this! The same is true for me, being in youth ministry. Every week I must offer grace and 'new beginnings' to EVERY student, regardless of previous weeks/months/years! Have a great schoolyear!
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