Wednesday's Word of Wisdom

This week has been super crazy.  Faculty and staff went back to work on Monday, and we have been in meetings from 8-4 everyday.  In the mean time, we are trying to get our rooms done for Curriculum Night (a Meet the Teacher night) that will be held on Friday from 5-7.  I am actually just now getting home, and it's 9:30 here.  I will be back up at 4 in the morning to do my daily routine again.  With all the stress this week, I have been reminding myself of this verse:

 

Source: http://topbibleverses.tumblr.com/page/2

One of my main concerns is of the children that I will be teaching.   I do not know my students' names yet.  I know this may sound crazy to some of you, but I live in a very small town.  In a small town, word spreads like wildfires.  If parents are not happy with their child's teacher, everyone and their mamas are going to know.  This also causes chaos for principals.  Additionally, if a teacher quits last minute (which seems to happen every year) or students are added at the end of the summer sometimes changes have to be made.  So, we are getting our lists at noon on Friday when we meet the children and their parents at 5 that night.  Let's just say I am going to be a mean, green, labeling machine from 1-5 Friday. :)

With this being said, I have been worrying about the students I am going to get.  It's not that I am picky of who I teach, but I hope that I am able to teach them everything they need to know and allow them to get the most out of first grade.  I hope that the parents and I get along well, and the year turns out to be amazing. 

I have needed to remind myself that God already knows who is going to be in my class and he knows who is going to be in your class.  He picked them out himself.  When the going gets tough and we don't think we can handle "Billy Bob" anymore, we can go to God in prayer.  There is no need to worry.  He has made sure that we were equipped to do the right thing.  All our actions are for His glory.  He has blessed us with great years in the past and challenging years as well that has helped us become the teacher we are today.  We not only need to pray to him when the going gets tough, but we also need to thank him for what he has done for us to prepare us for this day.

I challenge you this week or in the weeks to come in which you start back to work to sit down and pray for each and everyone of your students in your classroom.  They were hand picked to be in your class.  Pray that God's will be done.  I take the Sunday before our first day of school to sit down in each of my student's chairs and pray for them specifically by name.  Additionally, have others pray for you this year.  We have church groups that come to our school on the same Sunday and pray for each of our teachers specifically.  One group has already arranged a prayer meeting at each school's flag pole to pray for the school.  There is power in prayer, because the Bible says:

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." - Philippians 4:6

I pray that you have peace about this upcoming school year.  I pray that you are able to stray away from the stress that comes from teaching, and that you are able to receive comfort to do a job well done.  I pray that when you first need help that you go to God in prayer.  I pray that you have an amazing school year!