Thursday, November 8, 2007

6 days


6 days...that's how many days of student teaching I have left.


6 days...


to teach kids geometry


to put check marks on papers


to help kids solve for 'x'


to be patient and kind to 16 year olds


to tell precious girls they don't have to marry the boy they are dating in high school


to ask kids to take off their hats


to tell kids the f- word is not in the Bible (that happened today!)


6 days...


to have Spanish speaking kids teach me new Spanish words


to have students teach me about how my own lack of obedience transfers into how I don't require obedience from them


to have God teach me that my love needs to be without hypocrisy


to learn that kids can tell when you don't trust them


to learn that students want the benefit of the doubt


to learn that I have a lot to learn.


6 more days with these precious kids that God has allowed me to love on this semester. I hope that I have taught them a little math. I hope that I have helped them feel successful. I hope I have inspired them to work hard. I hope that I have made them believe in themselves. I hope that I have inspired them to think for themselves and to not cheat. I hope I have helped them see that their intelligence is not determined by a grade, but by their attitude. I hope a lot of things...but I might never know.


One of my love languages is words of affirmation. However, this love language often turns into an idol.


I must confess somethings ugly...


I like hearing "good job", I fish for someone to tell me, "you are so amazing", I ache for someone to tell me, "you have made such a difference in my life"


I wish I could tell you I am humble, but I am not. I am on the road to humility. When I say I am on the road, I mean I am standing on a road begging God to make my heart humble, because without Him...I can't. I stand because I am so prideful that I can't even walk towards humility...its such a foreign idea to me that I need His help to even know what that looks like. But as I stand on that road begging....


God gave me student teaching.


Student teaching has been a big answer to that prayer. I teach 81 students. 1 student has told me I am a good teacher. It happened on one day. This whole semester. For a girl who craves words of affirmation...that just isn't going to cut it.


God has challenged me this semester to serve with diligence no matter the words that come my way. God has challenged me to encourage kids even when I feel no encouragement. It has been hard, but oh so good.


God has taught me to love these children unconditionally. I am going to hate to leave. I am going to hate that I won't be the one that tells them to divide by two to solve for x or to make pumpkin triangles for halloween or tell them great job when they finally get it. I don't get to do that anymore.


I will probably cry...I do at most things...maybe not at school, but sometime I will cry. But I will not stop talking to God about them. I will not stop praying for their salvation and blessings for their lives. I will not stop praying for their repentance and freedom from so much. My students live tough lives...they are warriors. I pray that God would save them from their battles.


The beauty of being a Christian is that no matter where God takes you...you are never too far a way to pray for the ones you love. I love my students and I will miss them dearly...


I will enjoy the next 6 days...

5 comments:

Hendrick Family said...

You ARE amazing...and I really, really mean that!

Heather

Kathryn, Michael and Alex said...

Words of Affirmation is my love language too. But I love to put the glory back to God. I love sharing what God is doing through me and what He does in others.

God has done a beautiful thing in you Sara and He has only just begun!!

I love you.

Ryan Price said...

WOW! It's hard to believe that this is almost over. It has been amazing to watch you grow and be stretched through this process. I know that God is preparing you for something He has planned in the future.

You never cease to amaze me!

I miss you!!

Ryan

Kathryn, Michael and Alex said...

My Sweet Sara

I know that I have already commented but I wanted to say I love you and you are so special to me.
Wherever God takes you, I know that you will always be in my heart.

Kathryn, Michael and Alex said...

I was crying for you and praying for you on your last day.
I know the Lord has taught you so much through this experience and I can not wait to see the fruit of it.
I know that He will provide for you and I know that you will trust Him only.
I love you!!!!