Last Day at the Elementary School

Coming into my elementary placement, I was scared out of my mind. Who was afraid of the 1st grader? Obviously me. I felt unprepared and overwhelmed. I didn't admit to my teacher that I had never taught in elementary school until I had a successful lesson, two weeks into my experience. Oh my pride. I didn't add my elementary certification until junior year because I was certain that it was something that I did not want. God had other plans....His plans are always better than our own. I left this past Thursday with mixed feelings of sadness and joy. I cannot believe how much I loved my time there. I fell in love with my students. Children have a joy and innocence that is contagious. Many of them love freely and without question. If you believe in them, they blossom and accomplish much more than you could ever imagine.
I have been particularly burdened for one of my 6th grade students this school year. He has a very rough past, and you can see it simply though viewing the way he carries himself. The innocence of his youth has been ripped away from him by a cruel world. Just this week, I witnessed a miracle. He has been struggling with a project for countless days, and he just could not comprehend it. By the Grace of God, I was honored to see the light turn on in this boy's head. Whatever was blocking his comprehension was lifted! I cannot begin to tell you what joy it brought to my heart to see him succeed. In this same class, two of my other students who were struggling made the same break through. Words cannot express how proud I was. It brought tears to my eyes to see the accomplishment in their faces. My supervising teacher was gone the day that these boys accomplished so much. She came back and asked me how I accomplished a miracle. It was not me, but God....I did nothing out of the ordinary with them. God provided the exact direction I needed to help these students. It was so hard for me to leave them after seeing this progress. Yet, I know my teacher is wonderful and fully loves these children. However, I still want to be there for them. I want to see them succeed and witness their shoulders lift...their heads raise. Yet, I am thankful because as I reflect, I recognize that seeing these students succeed was His gift to me. Through this, God showed me that He is working through me. He was showing that my work made a difference and an impact.
So many more amazing things happened this week, and I am beyond blessed. My favorite class (I'll admit it...I am prejudiced) made me cards this week and brought them to me. This too almost made me cry. I'll have to post pictures of these cards; they are hilarious. I particularly love when children don't know how to spell, so they write one work when really they mean to write something that means the exact opposite. Just wait until I share....you'll love it.
I am blessed beyond measure for this I am grateful!