I survived my first two weeks of teaching. The teacher I work with is my friend from high school, and while I haven’t been in the school system long can say she is an excellent teacher.
The proof of this is the fact I managed Thursday afternoon and Friday alone.

Only a great teacher with a great schedule, routine, and a gift of teaching could have prepared me for that.

Thursday, she left during nap time, meaning I would only be alone for about an hour and a half to get ready for dismissal. What could go wrong, you ask?

The teacher down the hall suggested I do something simple for a snack like fruit snacks. When I got back from bringing a little girl to the bathroom, and right she left from watching the class for me, I noticed a little girl just standing and not moving. It wasn’t like a normal procrastinating posture. I don’t remember all that happened at this point, but I realized she could be choking. I asked if she was ok and did not respond, make any noise, or move (very unlike her).

I hit her on the back and was thinking, PLEASE, JUSE MAKE A NOISE!
NOT TODAY.
He who hesitates is lost.
I had to decide, so I picked her up and ran down the hall to the angel teacher’s room while screaming and pounding on the door. (Never call me during a crisis, FYI.)

She did the same assessment as me (a lot more calmly, may I add) and looked at the little girl. The little girl finally said, “I’m sick.”

The teacher said she thinks she was just extremely congested and literally couldn’t breathe and also couldn’t cough up anything. I looked at the teacher and wanted to cry and said THANK YOU SO MUCH. SHE DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISES. JUST SAY SOMETHING. If you can talk, then you can breathe.

The next day it would just be me alone, and we just witnessed what the first five minutes looked like.

I could have chosen to dwell on my inabilities and lack of experience. I could have gotten completely overwhelmed, but I didn’t have a choice except to step up.

I enjoy my new schedule because I wake up an hour and a half early to listen to a sermon, read my Bible, and drink my coffee. I’m so thankful to enjoy my mornings now, where before I had to be at work at 4:45 AM.

Instead of getting nervous, I prayed and told myself God gave me this position, and He knew this day was coming. The same day she left early, we found out the state will be be evaluating us after Mardi Gras break. ARE YOU SERIOUS? I’m two weeks in! (Insert stress eating here). This information paled in comparison now that I would be facing the day in the classroom ALONE. What’s the best way to learn except trial by fire? God said, “Just throw her in there!”

He gave me this job, and He gave me enough experience to do it. I will learn the more I do it (and the more mistakes I make).

The irony of this is the last week asked my teacher friend if I could share a bible verse with the students. Thursday’s was 1 Peter 5: Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you. I later told someone I wasn’t teaching scripture anymore… ha. What kind of test was this.

On the way to school, I listened to a song from a CD I found in my car by the previous owner and sent a video to friends.

“Let’s begin now
You know today I just woke up and I said
You know instead of waitin’ on a good day
Waitin’ around through ups and downs waitin’
On something to happen I just say

We’re gonna have a good day
And all my homies gonna ride today
And all these mommies look fly today
And all we wanna do is get by today
Hey
We’re gonna have a good day
And ain’t nobody gotta cry today
‘Cause ain’t nobody gonna die today
Save that drama for another day
Hey, we’re gonna have a good day
– ‘Good Day’ by Nappy Roots <—YouTube Link with Lyrics

To make a long story short, all except one of my students showed up to school. The teacher who helped the day before only had one student (and another came later), so she was with me and helped most of the day. I told her if it weren’t for covid I would give her a big hug.

That was how God provided for me.

It was a miracle, and it was a ‘good day’.

I’ve been thinking about how much my heart has changed in the last seven years. God has taken my cold, stony heart, who never wanted anyone, and softened it to be able to be with a classroom of children who require much love.

The answer to everything is Jesus.

He makes all things new. There’s no situation He can’t turn around. There is nothing too dire He can’t pull you through. There’s nothing too messy He can’t make beautiful.

A friend told me, “I know you’re worried about having your own family, but look at how God provided a classroom of kids for you to love.”

He makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.