Sunday, May 10, 2015

First Week

I always forget how tired the first week of school makes me--even though it's only three and a half school days. I always forget how hard it is to get up in time to prepare for breakfast at 7 and class at 8, I always forget how loud the dining hall is, and I always forget that THIS term was going to be the one when I didn't put those little jobs off till the day school started.

I also always forget how lovely it is to have a student come up to you and give you a big hug because they are actually glad to see you again. I forget how great it is to say something sort of funny and have most of your class laugh indulgently with you. I forget the excitement of a great class period where everyone is on the ball and focused, and the joy of marking homework that shows genuine understanding. So, term starting is both "the best of times, and the worst of times."

We had one of our senior boys move on to another school at the end of last term, and two other students rather suddenly pull out right at the beginning of term. My Hungarian student is here just for the first third of the term, and I have another kid going on furlough with her family about two thirds of the way through the term. We have Margie back with us as the 2nd and 3rd grade teacher, but no short termers so things are a little tight around here schedule-wise. I imagine that the Lord will have much to teach us all about patience and grace; I know that I need to take mine to another level! I have been challenged recently by reading a biography of Amy Carmichael, A Chance to Die. I have so far to go on my journey towards holiness--praise the Lord that He can use such imperfect vessels for His glory! I fear I get in the way all too often.