August Already???
Can you believe it? Is it really August? I feel like it’s still spring and all the craziness that comes with getting ready for school to end. But, no, summer is now almost over (or maybe it is over for you:(, and I’m wondering what I’ve done with it. Yes, I taught Extended School Year, and I did some family things. I also helped out some friends who were under the weather, but today the stress came back in full force.m
Funny thing is that at first the stress did NOT come from thinking about all the things I need to do for school to start. It came from feeling like my “me” time is almost gone.
Many of those books in my summer pile still sit on the bookshelf. My summer bucket list never even got made this summer. My deep cleaning list still sits on the counter with nothing crossed off. I started feeling like I was missing out on all those fun summer things we as teachers look forward to. I was frustrated because “after all that hard work, I deserve to have fun during the summer!”
Then I went out to lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in months. We ended up talking about ministry and the body of Christ. I started to remember that it’s not all about ME!:).
My plan when I got home was to start on that deep cleaning list. By the time I got home, however, I had begun to stress about school again. We haven’t officially started yet, but I have started to get emails. (Do you remember before email when we didn’t know what was happening until school actually started?:)
I became very anxious about some changes that “may” be happening this year. I sat on the couch and started thinking about how bad things could be. I began to pray and asked God for joy in the midst of changes. I sat in His presence for awhile. I then got up and start cleaning.
As I cleaned I listened to a recording of a Sunday School lesson from another church. The first words I heard from that recording were “Is anyone here anxious today?” I think I laughed out loud! Hmm…yep this was meant for me today:). He was talking about the end of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.
Listen to these words. “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ENCOURAGE your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (verse 16-17 NIV)
The verses before 16 and 17 talk about us being called to Him. We can find peace in the fact that we are part of His family. He loves us and gives us strength for the things that He has called us to do.
I don’t know about you, but I do feel like teaching is my calling. I really don’t want to do it haphazardly or just to get through the day. I want to do it joyfully because He has called me there. (I just have to remember that’s what I want:).
What about you? How are you feeling about school starting? Are you anxious? Are you tired of all the politics and all the changes? Are you overwhelmed by all the things you know you want to get done but won’t?
My prayer is that we will, instead, be overwhelmed with what God has done for us and how much He loves us. He can give us hope, so let’s choose JOY this August.