Hi, How'dy, How are ya?

Welcome to "The Country Schoolmarm"! Get yourself a cup of coffee (I take mine strong with vanilla creamer), grab a seat, and chat a while! Isn't that what country friends do? Now, all we need is a porch...

Monday, August 20, 2012

Monday Morning Meditation

Psalm 16:7-9


"I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure."

 (English Standard Version)
 


As my summer draws to a close, I am getting anxious about the school year starting.  This is my last full week of "being free".  It is a bittersweet moment.  Part of me is anxious about school starting and the adventures it contains.  That part wants to just sit by the pool forever.  The other part is anxious for it to start.  To interact with the students.  To hear the voices of children in the halls.  That part wants to be in front of the classroom trying to make learning become something that each child finds as a joy to do. To help them, through God's wisdom, power, and grace, to be in awe of God and want a personal relationship with him.

This is my week of switching gears.  Of planning units.  Of making bulletin boards. Designing a theme for the year (Owls of course!).  Buying school supplies for me and also the children.

Next week is In-Service.  I get to be reunited with my other family- my co-workers.  That brings excitement into my heart. I get to clean and scrub and prepare my room to be an inviting home away from home for my students. I get to start fresh!

But, the pool beckons.  Making crafts and having the freedom to come and go sweetens my Summertime.  Once school starts, that freedom ends.  The pool will be closed.  No time to sit on the porch and listen to the cicadas and birds.  They will all be leaving soon as well.

But the colors of Fall will soon appear!  I will get to tuck pumpkins, gords, crows, and other Fall needfuls everywhere! Thanksgiving will bring a shouting reminder to give thanks to a good Lord for His provision and bounty.  It will also bring "turkey comas" and wearing pants with elastic waist-bands.

But, the days will be getting shorter, darker.  The day will seem to end before it begins.  I will get home from work and crash on the couch, no creative energy left to craft or blog as often. Just nap.

But then, it will be Winter!  And snow will cover the ground making everything bright and new! Maybe some snow days tucked in where I can snuggle under a blanket and drink cocoa.   I can read and blog and just relax.

But then January, February, and most of March stretch on endlessly.  Indoor recess.  Cabin fever.  Cranky kids.  Cranky teacher.

But then, Spring comes. Flowers and field trips brighten the day! Plants and trees come alive with colorful clothing, their Easter attire, ready to celebrate our risen Lord. He who brings new life to all who believe.

But then, Spring leads to testing and the end of a year.  A year that was no doubt full of blessings and struggles.  A full year.  A year of God's grace.  And the children, whom you did not know at the beginning, have now become dear to you.  You have become a family.  A unit.  But it must end, and you are parted with your "children".  You are grateful for the break, but the halls seem empty without the sounds of children.  You tear down your room with the wistfulness of tearing down streamers and decorations after a wonderful party.

But then, Summer is there.  To renew and revive.  Until at your Summer journey's end, you start the process over again.

That is the life of a teacher.  But, God is by my side every hour, every minute, every second.  He is constant.  Guiding, calming, giving wisdom, giving joy, comforting in sorrow, encouraging grace and mercy in all that I think or do.


"Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure." Psalm 16:9

6 comments:

  1. Good morning, Heather! What a beautiful post!
    You've summed up the life of a teacher to a tee!
    Hope you all settled in quickly and enjoy a wonderful year together, learning and growing in God!
    Blessings
    Christine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Morning to you too, friend! Thank you for your well wishes. I sure will miss blogging as much as I am now and talking with friends. I am going to try to post a few times a week, to keep in touch. Thank you again for your encouragement through this journey! I value the journey of our friendship as well and look forward to getting to know you more! Kindred spirits across a pond!

    I covet your prayers with this journey. I am really nervous about this class. But I know I need to fully rely on God in this journey. I want to stay true to His will and guidance. To have patience with what lies ahead!

    Thank you again for your friendship! Blessings to you also!

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Heather,just had to say hi after seeing your comment over at The Rusty thimble,I had to laugh as My dog Rosie gets Me up at such awful early hours for 'supposed toilet breaks' too! I miss so much sleep :( It just so struck a chord I had to come over and say hello :)
    Hope you get a better night tonight lol,take care love juliexo

    ReplyDelete
  4. So we can think of each other and commiserate even though we are in different time zones! I miss a lot of sleep too. Most of the time, I can fall back to sleep. Sometimes though, I can't. That is when you see my blogging times at freakishly early hours. All the while, the pup sits next to me on the couch.

    Thanks for stopping by! It is so good to meet you! I hope you get a better night as well! :)

    Blessings,
    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  5. How beautiful! I will share this with our teacher devotion group, even though we are two weeks into school already. Bless you! Becky

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you! It is a heart-tug-of-war as a teacher, isn't it? Ahhh, clean classroom & sleepy kids with beadheads- the first day of school! LOL!

    Blessings on the start of your school year!

    Heather

    ReplyDelete

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24

Let's chat! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas!