Teaching is my God Thing

I have always wanted a big family. I come from a small, close-knit family and there is so much that I love about that. Before we had Raegan, my kids at school would ask when I was going to have children and I would say to them why do I need kids....I have them. They were my babies. My philosophy on teenagers is that they are sometimes overgrown babies. We often treat them as if they are grown-ups expecting them to be responsible adults when physiologically and psychologically they are still developing. Sometimes I have to remind myself that they just need love and nurturing like an infant. This week God has reminded me how instrumental I am in his plan. He is using me to carry out his plan through these children. They need me and I need them and we are like family to each other. I have to be honest.... I haven't always been 100% sure that teaching was for me. Sometimes I questioned God's plan for my life. People often criticize my decision to teach, implying that I could have been someting else, made more money, etc. I hate to say that at times I agreed with them.
Weeks like this one help me stay focused and realizing that this is a God thing and not a me thing. In this week alone I have dealt with so many issues with these students. Most of the situations have been heartbreaking but through their trials I have had the opportunity to be Jesus with skin on as Bro. Steve calls it. Two students have confided about recent rapes and the emotional turmoil that they are dealing with. We have been working with a team of counselors and law enforcement officials to get them the help that they need. Another student found out she has an inoperable brain tumor. A young man told a story of how he had a gun pulled on him in his neighborhood. Another shared his family misfortunes of his mother losing their home, car, and job all while trying to stay away from her abusive ex-husband. One boy returned to school this week after his family lost everything over the weekend in a house fire. A girl shared about her mother's mental illness and how she has to care for her when her father is away at work. All of these stories were shared just this week. These students come from many diverse backgrounds. Some are black, some white, some in between, some poor, some middle class, some christian, some not. These kids have one thing in common....they need someone. They need God and I am a sounding board for them and a stepping stone to him. He is using me to give them hope and them to keep me humble and HIS. Blessings are all around us even when we least expect them. These kids have become part of that big family that I've always desired. Each one of them takes a piece of my heart away with them when they leave....I just hope that they always remember that my heart belongs to God.

Whatever you do unto the least of these you do unto me. Matthew 25:40