Just Be....

Today was the first teacher day of our school year.  It started with breakfast provided by a church in our county and ended with six hours working in my room after my contract hours ended.  Long day.  But...the thoughts in my head today have gone with the verb "Be".  From words by our  superintendent, to our principal, to His Word...BE has been popping into my head all day long.

Be Positive!
Mr. Jones challenged us to come to school each day and to choose to be positive.  Honestly, in the area of education (state & national mumbo-jumbo), there are a lot of reasons to be negative or be pessimistic.  But...just like my previous post, I can choose to be positive.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things."  Philippians 4:8

Be Enthusiastic!
Again, Mr. Jones encouraged us to be enthusiastic. Obviously, there are some things I have to teach that I teach..simply because I "have to" teach them.  In those areas especially, I must choose to be enthusiastic.  But, I also must show my students that we can be enthusiastic when facing the unknown..  Rather than being anxious, I can choose to be excited and anticipate the positive with genuine enthusiasm.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.  You are serving the Lord Christ."  Colossians 3:23-24

Be Calm!
This challenge came from our principal, Mrs. Gauger.  You know, there are a lot of things that can get under our skin or can get us worked up.  I must confess, when I was attempting to make my parent booklets, I ran into a couple technology obstacles.  One copier printed smudged copies and the other was offline, so it wouldn't communicate with my computer.  For a few minutes, I became a bit anxious and frustrated.  Then, I remembered those words, and I breathed in and out.  I thought, "How can I take care of this problem?"  It occurred to me that I could go "old school" (not really old school...just a few years ago-old-school).  I printed one copy of the booklet on the printer, and I took it down to copy.  In  no time at all, the booklets were copied and soon bound.  When I left Southwestern at 5:50, I had the booklets on each of my students' desks.

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

Be Content!
This morning, my devotion app shot me a verse reminding me to be content.   Throughout the day, this challenge connected my thoughts to what was being said.  When changes to schedules or duties were announced, I reminded myself to be content.  When my plan to leave at 2 came and went, I told myself to be content.  When the electricity flickered at school and then at home, I told myself to be content.

"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:12-13

I tell myself daily that nothing will happen that will take God by surprise.  Plenty happens to surprise me (or to startle me), but nothing startles the One who holds me in His hand.

"Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand."  Psalm 37:24

This evening, I took out the trash while it was raining to avoid taking it out in the dark of morning.  I showered before 7pm and seemed to have shocked the "Fix It Guy" who stopped by to update me on his window work when I answered the door with a wet head & robe.  Now, I'm resting on the couch attempting to decompress from my day. You know...I'm content.  Of course, I'm not as content as the cat who's been snoozing for over an hour on the back of the couch, but that's for another post.

A Whole New World

Yikes!  It's been a while since I last wrote a post, so I thought..."What else would I want to do two evenings before school starts?"

So, I thought about what has been floating through my thoughts as of late, and that would be the Disney song "A Whole New World".  Why?  I'm glad you asked..  CHANGE.

Last spring, the superintendent of our school retired, so we have a new superintendent.  Each one we've had in the 19 years of my teaching experience has been different than the one before, which is expected.  The school board hired the middle school principal to take his place.  A new superintendent brings CHANGE.

So, the opening in the middle school was filled by our elementary principal.  That led to our assistant principal being hired as our principal.  Again, the three principals I've had thus far all did things in his or her own way, as expected.  So, a new principal means things will CHANGE.

Then, you have location changes where our preschool was moved to the front of the building causing several kindergarten and first grade classrooms to CHANGE to a different room.  [Between you & me, I am thankful to teach third grade and to remain in the same room where I have taught for around 15 years.]  Learning where to find the various teachers will take some time, but thankfully...their names will be on their doors.

Of course, I always make my own classroom look "different".  I don't like my previous students to come in and say, "This looks just like our classroom."  Instead, they say, "Wow, you really CHANGED the room this year."  Whether it was painting my teacher desk, moving the teacher's aide spot, or altering my classroom management plan, CHANGE abounds in room 302.

You know, sometimes...CHANGE can scare the life out of me.  The unknown can be frightening.  It can cause anxiety.  However, CHANGE can also bring about good.  Honestly, I like the "look" of 302 better this year than any year previous.  I have no doubt that the changes our superintendent and principal prompt will be for the good of our students and our school.  Yes, it may be a bit nerve-racking at times...not knowing how things will go, but I can choose the way I deal with it.

I can choose to trust rather than to fear.
I can choose to see the positive rather than the negative.
I can choose to be a LIGHT even if it's cloudy.
Choose.

So, if you are facing A Whole New World because of CHANGE....I urge you to CHOOSE....Choose to be still & know that He is God...He's got this...every single change you face.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "  Matthew 6:25-33