Well this is the year that I leave on my 11 month journey through South America! I have a lot to learn before I go…
Last week, God gave me a little smack at work. He made me realize I was not giving 100% effort to my job and not loving my students the way I should.
Let me explain. Last week was my first week back teaching after a wonderful two week winter break, but at the end of last year, I felt discouraged about this potential career. I’m actually only a “long term substitute” not a Nevada licensed teacher. I learned that it was going to be a little more complicated than expected to get my certification. After learning this bad news, I felt myself drifting from my job, not wanting to try quite as hard. After all, I only get paid a small amount by the day, I have no benefits, and if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. So while the other teachers got paid for their two weeks off, I did not. I felt a bit taken advantage of due to the education and teaching experience I already have.
On my first day back last week, I had my students fill out a feedback form. With one of the questions, I asked them to write down a mentor that could talk to them if their behavior was getting out of line in my class. After getting their papers back, I saw that a few wrote down “Ms. Daniel” as their mentor.
My name. Even though I mentioned that their mentor needed to be another teacher, some of them wrote my name. It made me stop and think for a minute.
Then reality struck. I realized that these kids are watching me every single day. If I get frustrated with them and show that frustration in an unloving way, they’ll notice. If I come to work with little energy and with a lack of desire to want to be there, they’ll notice. If I say I’ll do something, but fail to do it, they’ll notice.
So those past couple of weeks before Christmastime may not have been my best days as a teacher. When I start putting me first and my needs before the students, there is a gap in my teaching and in the connection I have with the students. Rick Warrens Purpose Driven Life Book is a great read in teaching you about God’s purpose for your life. His first line in the book is, “It’s not about you.” When I start making it about me, I forget about my whole purpose. In teaching, it’s all about the students. So I can be irritated by school policies, but it should never interfere with how I teach my kids every day.
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” God does not care how much I get paid or how qualified I am. He is concerned with my attitude and that I work giving honor to His name. After all, I say that I represent God. So if I only put in 50% effort because I only make 50% of what a teacher makes, I am not representing God correctly.
Recently I read a quote that was addressing a Christian and it asked, “What is the difference between a good atheist and a Christian?” This spoke to me because how am I any different than a good atheist? This convicted me to live my life differently than others. In Philippians 2:14 it says, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
So that is what God has been teaching me lately. I must thank him for providing me with this job (without grumbling about the pay) and then honor Him through my hard work and showing His love to my students every day.
That attitude will make me a good teacher, and that mindset will make me a good missionary.
I’m curious about the opinions of people reading this blog. Do you have any advice to give me for preparing for this mission trip to South America? If you have any thoughts, encouraging words, or wisdom, please, please, please comment below and share with me what you think.
