It is late and I am tired, as usual. But my spirits are very high. You see, I am marveling once again at the goodness of God. So this blog, it's just a shout-out to my Savior for the amazing things He has done in my life of late.
1) Probably the highlight of my week and perhaps my life, was watching confidence bloom in S this week. Was it just two week ago that she told me that she never does anything right? Did you ever prove her wrong, Father! To go from an F on her first test to a B+ on her third is truly a miracle. She is more engaged and more lucid than she has been all year. I know that it is you, my God. I just humbly fall to my knees and thank you for the change I have seen in her. Forgive my boldness, but could you double your efforts? I ask that she would become one of my most academically inclined students. I pray that you would work yet another miracle and get her on grade level by the end of the year—that is 3.5 years of reading growth in just one year. Only you can do something like that. I am asking the King of Kings to do something only He can do. Use me in any way that you wish in her life. Thank you for what you have done and what you will continue to do.
2) In addition to the transformation I have seen in S, I thank you for the changes I have seen in Su and K. The are like flowers on the brink of blooming. I thank you for the change I have already seen in them. Please continue to move in mighty ways in their lives. I ask that you would give them the love and stability they do not get at home here in the classroom. Thank you so much for their lives and the beautiful places you will take them.
3) I can't help but smile as I think of Crazy M. What a beautiful child she is. She got a D on her first test. She was two points from an A on this last one. Praise You, my Father. You are the great Teacher. I know that you are teaching her about love and whispering in her ear how much you love her. Thank you for placing her in my life for this season. And if it is your will, please keep her in the classroom and not have her go next week, as planned. Please know that I would gladly take her forever, if that is your will. I ask that you would work a miracle and keep her here. Please.
4) I praise you for the incredible favor you have given me with my students, my principal and my program director. Not every teacher can say with confidence that their students love them. I recognize that this is a gift and I am truly thankful for it. Thank you God that my principal believes in me and supports me. You knew exactly what you were doing in placing me here. And thank you for my Program Director, especially the fact that he gives me the constructive criticism and the encouragement so many others do not. I am humbled by your favor, Father. Make me worthy of it.
5) Thank you so much for my family here in Kyle. When they told me that they wanted to adopt me into their family through a traditional Lakota ceremony, I nearly wept. You alone knew it was one of my heart's secret desires to receive a Lakota name and be adopted into the community. This spring, it will be official. I will have gained seven nieces and nephews, a sister and brother and a place in the Lakota Nation. I am overwhelmed by your grace, Father.
6) Thank you for placing B here. It is so encouraging to have a Christian friend teaching here. What would I have done without her support and wisdom? You knew I needed a comrade to fight this battle with. Thank you for sending me her.
7) Finally, I thank you for all the faithful love and support I have received from family, friends and perfect strangers. You have placed a love inside of them for the Lakota people. I have been truly humbled by the outpouring of love I have witnessed from people of all different walks of life. Only you can bring that kind of unity. I thank you.
I kneel before you know, Father, and praise you for your incredible faithfulness. You have done so much in my classroom that only a fool would doubt that it was the hand of God. Make me worthy, dear Lord.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment