I'm grateful

This is an unique school year. After teaching first grade for seven years, this year I am teaching second grade. Yes, I finally moved up.

I am absolutely loving this change. I love second grade. I love the newness of a new grade, a new classroom, a new class. It was a must needed change. However along with this change has come some very long hours at work.

Tonight I came home exhausted after working 12 hours. And this was not my first long evening at work. I know that many people work long hours but that is not the norm for me. My Friday night was spent in my classroom and I was simply exhausted as I drove home. I have a headache, I am tired, and my eyes hurt. Yet, more than that I am grateful.

In spite of the long day, I am full of gratitude.

I am grateful for my classroom. I love the bright colors. I love how welcoming it feels. I love how organized it is and how everything fits so perfectly. I love how my kids are still at the age where a “clean desk fairy” is something magical. Every Friday afternoon they are excited to leave their desks clean in expectation that the desk fairy will visit and leave them a piece of candy. I love it.

I am grateful for the small things that God knows so speak to my heart. For the fact that my classroom this year is on the other side of the hallway. I am so grateful that when I work late I see the sun setting and enjoy it's beauty from my classroom window. I am grateful for the fact that you tube is no longer blocked at school and I can listen to worship music in the quietness of the evening. I am grateful for music that draws my heart to Christ and my eyes back on Him.

I am grateful for a great team to work with. That I am not struggling alone to figure out what I am teaching each week. I am grateful for the teammate who brought in cupcakes this morning just because it was Friday. I am grateful for the teammate who loves pinterest and shares all the great teaching ideas she finds from there. I am grateful for my two teammates that I see each morning as I stand at my door to greet my little second graders.

Most of all, I am grateful for my students. I am grateful that each one has been selected by God to be in my classroom. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach them and love them. I am grateful I am getting to know each of their personalities and how uniquely they are made. I am grateful for my student who cried every day for the first two months of first grade and barely spoke all year. I am grateful that he now comes up and talks to me all the time throughout the day. I love to see how he now has friends in our class and I love to see his shy smile.

I am grateful for my student who drove me crazy the first week of school because she could not sit still or complete any of her work. I am grateful for the perspective of her first grade teacher and to now see her energy, her love, and her desire to please. She is such the little athlete. I love watching her run at recess as she has this amazing strong stride. I love making her feel special because she is the fastest second grade runner.

I love the fact that I have four students whose siblings were in my class in first grade. I loved showing them their sibling's first grade pictures in my old yearbooks. I am grateful for the little girl who her first grade teacher called a little love bug.

I am grateful for the fifth grade girl who came back to visit me with her mother before school began. I had to look her up in the yearbook to remember her. Then I realized why I couldn't remember her. She came in half-way through that first grade year. She was very quiet and the significant behavior challenges that I had that year overshadowed her. She moved away after first grade but just moved back for fifth grade. I am grateful that this girl that I did not even remember, remembered me. That I somehow made a difference in her life that year despite the craziness of that year. I am grateful that I get to see her this year, give her a hug and made her feel special.

I am grateful for the lessons God is teaching me. I am grateful for Tuesday when I felt completely stressed and overwhelmed by all the lesson plans, paperwork, grading, and so much more. I am grateful for how at the end of the day God brought my perspective back onto Him. I am grateful for IJM prayer group that night and how the song my friend played was about how Christ is all I need. I am grateful for kneeling on the floor, face down, desperate for God. I am grateful for how much I have needed God each day this week at work and throughout my day.

I am grateful for yesterday when I was tired and not feeling well. For when my well planned lessons that day felt mediocre. For when I found myself feeling frustrated and impatient with my kids at the end of the day. I am grateful that when I drove home, I could rest in the assurance that God loved me and delighted in me simply because I am His daughter. I am grateful that very morning I had been in awe of reading about Christ's baptism. How God the Father looked down upon Christ and said this is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Oh the glorious truth that I am in Christ. That God looks upon me and says this is my dearly loved daughter, who brings me great joy. He is well pleased with me. And that does not change whether I had the absolute best or worst day of teaching. I also am also grateful for my students who love me in my best and worst moments.

I am grateful for the joy and perspective God has graciously given me. How despite the stress that is there, despite the long hours, despite the tiredness that when I look upon God He is all I need. I am grateful to be able to take one day at a time and for the opportunity He has given me at my school. I long to bring Him glory. I long to know more of His love and be filled by Him so I can pour more out to those around me. I am grateful for His promises in John 15.

.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing...If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Thank you Abba Father for Your abundant love and goodness. Thank you for how You can change our perspective, for how You are all we need, for the joy and strength that comes only from You. May our hearts be filled with gratitude. Thank you for your love and acceptance just as we are. For the days when we are far from gratitude. Thank you for your love that changes our hearts and our lives. I am so grateful for You, Abba Father, and that I am Your beloved daughter.