Good morning, class! Today is Tuesday, November 18, 2014.
It’s Grace of YES Day.
A few weeks ago, I said “YES” to a long-term substitute-teaching assignment. I’ll be there through Christmas. I’ve gone into more detail on the subject here, but a “YES” to any teaching job is a “YES” to a gratifying, frustrating, entertaining, saddening experience. It’s not just a job; it’s a ministry.
The students and I keep their Regular Teacher in our prayers each day. She is dearly missed and we all hope she will return to good health, and her classroom, as soon as she can.
I pray for my foster-second-graders as I
- hand out birthday pencils
- give spelling tests
- grade spelling tests
- read chapters from Ramona the Pest
- encourage reverence during Grace Before Snack
- redirect children who use the wrong hand to salute the flag
- line up the class for the bathroom. Again.
- conduct science experiments involving rocks, water and flimsy plastic containers
- enforce the “no sharing snacks” rule (we have allergies)
- invent the “no shaking down other kids for snacks” rule
- make sure the two Imaginary Students are not disrupting the class
This job saps my energy, creativity, and voice like no other.
And I love it. Even when I have outside lunch duty on 35-degree days and my hair is up because there’s a Head Lice Epidemic on the first floor and, well, I’m not willing to make that sacrifice for the kids…
Little Brother leaves notes on the board for my class before they arrive in the morning and visits us on his way to the nurse for his pre-snack insulin at midmorning. This “YES” has been good for him. I think he likes having me around his school. (He even hugs me in front of my class. Don’t tell him I told you this.)
It’s grace, pure and simple, that is getting me through these challenging days and weeks.
What’s your “YES” and how is grace making it possible? Share on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #graceofyesday
Want to learn more about the Grace of Yes? Read my review of the book here and join the discussion at CatholicMom.com!
I recall head lice epidemics. You sure have said YES to a great ministry!
Good for you! Today I got out of bed when I really didn’t want to. We’ll see how the rest of the day goes!
I am enjoying your comments on you substitue teaching experience
Use shampoo with coconut oil in it. My friend Gina uses it every other night, even though she’s principal now, just in case. And now my head itches.
Thanks! I’ll have to look for that.