The Ninth Inning

School is out--finished teaching about two weeks ago and the blessed reprieve called summer is once again upon us. If I could have seen ahead of time everything that transpired during May and June, I would've locked myself in my room and hid the key. Thankfully the Lord didn't reveal it to me and instead He has been/is teaching me to rely on His grace day by day. Year 9: My best year as far as teaching goes, my worst as far as health goes. This is the year that I can finally say that I love teaching, and the Lord gave me joy in the midst of being sick for a good portion of the school year. The Lord gave me the grace to teach 100 kids playing on 10 different instruments who were a part of 6 different ensembles. Stressful, but I did enjoy most parts of it.

It is also the year I say goodbye to teaching in a Christian school. The particular school where I teach is struggling to make ends meet and my position is one of the casualties. Why a school would decide to cut a teacher who is running a successful program is beyond me, but it is not beyond the Lord. He is the one who allows things to take place and I must trust that this is His will for me right now. So....year 10 will be the 1st year that I will only be teaching in a public school and the Lord has provided me with the opportunity to increase my time there. I will continue in my current string position and in addition teach some middle school band. This whole situation sure has been both stressful, frustrating and exciting. But when all is said and done, it makes me turn to Him whole has the whole world in His hands. Who am I to question His ways?

I was thinking about it one night--over the time that I have been teaching, I have worked with over 1000 kids. It is wild to think about--both amazing and scary. And that is only in nine years. If the Lord keeps me teaching for quite a bit longer......it really puts into perspective the need for me to be a good witness in the workplace.

Some days....

I wish I could complain. Today is one of them. But what good would it do? Probably not much. And besides, it is all in the Lord's hands, and who am I to complain about the circumstances He has me in right now?