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Mercy and Grace in Sorrow

This week, one of my dear friends lost her mother. As heartbreaking as this has been for me, I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it has been for her and her family.

Looking back, God's grace and mercy is clearly evident. In simple things like her passing occurring just after Mother's Day and not at this time last week. And in other things like her being able to witness the baptism of her son-in-law and grandchildren. There are so many other ways that God prepared the way for her.

I have been so blessed to see God's provision (and sovereignty) at work in the past few days. Though my heart aches for this sweet family, I am grateful for the reminder that God is still in complete control and He wasn't taken by surprise at all by the week's events.

Please join me in praying that this family is soon able to see this grace and mercy in the midst of their sorrow.

The hardest part of teaching...

isn't what I thought it would be. I don't mind all the planning. I don't mind all the hours I have spent with scissors, laminate, and paper. I don't even mind all the paperwork that seems to fill up my desk on a daily basis.

What I do mind is having to send my kids home at the end of the day. I love my students like they are my own (or at least how I think I will love my own). And I want the best for them. Which sometimes means I don't want them to go home. Today was one of those days. After hearing about home situations from a few of my students, I was literally nauseated. I gave the best guidance and direction that I knew to give, and then I prayed over and over again that God wouldn't let them grow up to do what they have seen in their short 5-6 years of life.

If I could take each of my kids home with me at the end of each day, I would do it in a heartbeat. But that's not my right or responsibility. My job is to teach them. My job is to show them how to behave. My job is to love them.

And that's what I'm going to do.