The Struggle Is Real

***Every now and then I just need to use my blog as therapy for my teacher and mommy soul.***

Last week, my 2 year old woke up saying, "Poop, eveweruh, Momma!" to which I came into his room to find it on his sheets, up his back, down his leg....and because of the extra time it took me to clean him all up, I was 5 minutes late to school.

The struggle is real.

Every so often {or more often than I want to admit}, I shed tears on the way to work at the thought of leaving my son for the day to teach instead of staying home with him.  Regardless of the passion I have for my job.  Regardless of the wonderful team I work with.  Regardless of the calling I have to teach.  2 years later, I still shed tears.

The struggle is real.

In the middle of the 60 degree weather--in January--I have 25 firsties who have caught spring fever.  And it's winter.  For 2 more *loooooooooong* months.

The struggle is real.

Getting 6 year olds to decode, read fluently and comprehend what they read on a *grade level* text is a daunting task.  A task that, for a few, is a breeze.  A task that, for some, is just demanded too early.  A task that, for others, is developmentally inappropriate.  But a task that is expected of all.

The struggle is real.

Working day in and day out and giving 150% at my job is what I do every day I come to school.  I don't know how to do it any other way.  And there are wonderful, wonderful things that happen in my classroom every day because of that philosophy.  But sometimes, for some people, that's still not good enough.  Sometimes, in a data driven world, it doesn't produce the results others want.  Sometimes, it doesn't produce the results that even I want.

The struggle is real.

But the calling is real, too.

Before school started I blogged about my calling to teach.  Despite my teaching struggles.  Despite my mommy struggles.  Despite my wife struggles.  This is what I'm called to do by my Creator.

Because in the end, I'm not in this struggle to get praises from others.  Not from my firsties, not from my co-workers, and not from parents of my first graders.  I mean, let's be honest, it sure is *nice* to get praised, complimented, appreciated, and patted on the back.  In the words of my precious late grandfather, "Even an old dog likes to be patted on the head."  Sure, I crave compliments from my husband, family, friends, administrators and others.  I'm human.  But my real purpose is pleasing my Savior.  Because His opinion of me is what really matters.  Because He sees my heart.  Because he knows my thoughts.  Because what He has to say about me is eternal.

And THAT is real.

So...as a reminder to the teacher, wife, friend, and mommy inside of me, and since 2015 is the year I *ENCOURAGE*, here are some encouraging verses that are good for the soul when the struggle is feeling ever so real.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

"For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people.  He alone examines the motives of our hearts." I Thessalonians 2:4

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23

1 comment

  1. Thank you for sharing!! and YES the struggle is so real!!
    Karen

    ReplyDelete

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