The Simple Truth


Summer is over. Let’s all pause for a moment of silence…

I’ve been wrestling with my calling as a teacher the past few years since Jesse’s death. The first year I taught on autopilot, just doing what felt right, and each subsequent year got just a little harder. It’s hard to be creative when you’re grieving.

Last year I somehow woke up from my funk. I enjoyed my students, and actually began to feel like a teacher again, but I was completely exhausted by the effort. So when this new school year began to loom on the horizon, I had some seriously mixed emotions. Would this year be better than last? Would I experience another resurgence of enthusiasm and skill?

Last week I decided to stop fretting and pray. I prayed that God would remind me why I teach, that he would somehow use me in the lives of my students, and that he’d enable me to do that which he’s called me to do. He’s answered my prayers in the sweetest way possible.

Over the weekend, I got an email from a MS student asking if maybe sometime we could go get coffee, like friends do. (You bet we can!) On Monday I was sitting in the mall with my Dad and my daughter (they were having ice cream) and another one of my HS students came flying up and embraced me, telling me that she’d missed me and that she was taking voice lessons so that she could take choir again next year (this year she must take another course to complete all her credits). Last night we had convocation, and two of my HS students from last year ran up and hugged me, their eyes sparking and faces beaming.

I get it Lord.

I’m not completely prepared for the year, but I’ve been reminded of why I teach:

To love on these kids. Plain and simple. Hopefully, they’ll even learn how to sing in the process.