The thing that most people in my life want to know is how my school year is going. I find it a difficult question to answer. It's going well. There is nothing wrong with it, nothing I would change. Well. Except the 5:15 wake up, the 30 minute drive, all the time on my feet, the super rushed eating of lunch, the challenge of making everything I have to do fit into the amount of time I have ... you know. Just a few things. :-)
Oh, but even those things are not so bad.
It's ironic really. For so long I lamented over not having my own classroom with my own procedures, supplies, ideas, and general way of doing things. Now that I have those things, I find that I wish I had someone (an over 5ft tall, adult someone who does NOT call me Miss Hunter) with whom to share them. I don't always like being alone.
It is also interesting how some times my students seem normal sized to me. I don't necessarily think of them as children. It's only when I stop and look at them, really look at them, that I can see just how small they really are. Not only small in size, but in the ways of the world. It is not that they are naive; they see and feel brokenness. I just see that they are beautiful children, clearly made the image and likeness of God. But again, I only see that when I take the time to pause and really see.
Perhaps that is part of why childhood is stripped away so easily in today's world. Unless we take the time to really see who children are, we easily forget that they are small. The acknowledgment of that smallness makes all the difference. Suddenly, I am compelled to transform the way I relate to them. I owe them the extra moment it takes for me to smile. I owe them the pause before my words that changes my voice from impatient to warm and encouraging. I owe them the diligence it takes to train and discipline.
I owe them my sacrifices.
I owe them because when I pause and look at them, I see the way to the Heavenly Kingdom. They are showing me the path to God.
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