Yeah. . .I can be a teacher

Monday, I came back to my apartment, and told Becky (my roomie),
" I think God did not call me to teaching. I can't be a teacher!"

Let's rewind a little: Six hours before, I was teaching a math lesson, and my second graders were not willing to listen to me, and I did not explain the concept well. I did a few 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 classroom management techniques. It worked for a few minutes, but after a few minutes, it was back to "normal." I think what made it worse was that my supervisor came to observe me. It was humbling to know that I could have done so many things incorrectly and that I had stumbled.


However, as the week progressed, the Holy Spirit pressed in my heart that God's grace is sufficient for me. So, after Monday, for the millionth time, I surrender my pride to God and completely depended on Him in teaching (God is so merciful).

I did not teach math until Thursday again because they had review on Tuesday and a test on Wednesday. On Thursday, when I was at the school ready to do some copies, I realized that I had left my lesson plan at home! While I was walking to the front of the classroom, whispered to Jesus, "I need you," and off I went following the quick post-its I made to remind me of the progression of my lesson. Folks, the lesson went so smoothly! I still had a few hiccups, but who is perfect? His grace is sufficient indeed.

This week, I also have been teaching language arts to my second grade special need students, and it has been great getting to know them. They are curious and are coming a long way in reading from what I have heard they were at in the beginning of the year. Again, getting to know them, and seeing their progress is only because of God's sufficient grace.

Lastly, on Friday afternoon, I took the my six first grade special needs kids out of the general classroom to a different room so they could take their math test. It was only me and them this time. My cooperative teacher was not there. As we entered the room, one of my kids threw a tantrum, another threw the books in the ground, and another decided he wanted to take the test laying down on the bench, refused to sit. I sighed, and confident that God's grace will help me through, I was firm, talked to my kid with a tantrum, calmed down eventually, told my kid that threw the books, "First take the test, then read" and he sat down comforted by that, and the kid not wanting to sit down finally sat (after I gave him a check; not a good thing to have). After a few minutes, they were all taking the test with occasional complaining. At the end of the hour, they all successfully took the test with me running around from student to student to help them read and do some problems. No one was hurt, they finished the test, and I was alive. God's grace is sufficient.

So, reflecting on my week. . .yes, I can be a teacher.  But not on my own strength, but God's alone. Through His guidance, grace, and love. God has not called me to a profession, but to a mission, which is to love these children and any student I ever have in the future. And I do. I love these children. I love my kids at Sarah's Covenant Home (http://sarahscovenanthomes.blogspot.com/). I love the kids at Tesoros de Dios (http://www.tesorosdedios.org/).

My special needs students are so smart and sweet (I got a couple hugs for the first time this week!!!). It is challenging, and I am learning, and will continue to stumble, but will continue to walk with His grace alone.