Wrapping up...

Wow I can't believe that the first semester of my first year of teaching is already over. I am giving my last semester exam right now. So far so good. It is kind of funny but I am a little sad that I will be away from my students for two whole weeks. Yes there are the few that drive me absolutely insane, but, there are also the ones that I have built some great relationships with and enjoy the hellos each day. Once again not trying to compare myself with God but I can understand the great rejoicing there is in Heaven one a lost soul becomes found. God calls us his children and even though I am not a mother yet, these students mean so much to me. To think of something bad happening to them or the fact that they have to face so much in this dark world is heartbreaking. I was talking to my mom last night about that very thing. That so many of these students have to go through things that I could never even imagine and the saddest part is a lot of them face it alone. Just looking at them now makes me wonder what will they face before they reach the end of this year, what will they face before they reach the end of their high school careers? How will their lives turn out, will they find true happiness in Christ or will they struggle to find their place in this unforgiving and cruel world. To think right now they are so young but are not innocent like I was when I was their age. They have had so many things throw at them from such a young age. I mean I have students who have children and I teach freshmen. They know more bad words, more pain, more betral, more abdoment then I could ever dream of knowing. It makes me really stop and thank God for what he has done for me. I mean I have two parents who are still madly in love with each other and are not afraid to show that to us(even if it grossed me out when I was younger). I have three brothers who love me and never took advantage of me or wronged me in a way that would scar me for life. I have grandparents who have been a part of my life and care enough each year to call me for my birthday. I also have great friends; friends who I know that at anytime if I needed them they would be there to help me without question. These are the blessings that God has given to me. The worst heartache I have ever felt was the loss of my granddad, but I can not say the same for so many of my students and that hurts me. It hurts me to know that they face challenges day in and day out that I do not know if I would be able to survive and yet they are here and they are trying to have a better life to make things better for themselves. I just hope that one day they can make that decision to follow Christ and to know that no matter what there is someone out there who loves them passionately and would do anything for them. That is the kind of love they are searching for and I hope that is the kind of love they can see living in me. So as you go through the next couple of weeks remember to look around you at the blessings God has given you and let your family and friends know how much they mean to you because trust me it could be a whole lot worse.