Weary...

While driving to school last week, I was feeling it - WEARY.  The pressures of the end of the year were piling up and my mind was focused on the many items on my to do list.  I was feeling overwhelmed and felt like I couldn't see the forest through the trees.  I think you can all understand how I was feeling.  I know I am not alone in how busy and overwhelming life can sometimes get.  So with the upcoming run, work pressures, busy with kids and their activities, trying to make plans for our yard, house cleaning and laundry on my brain, I was feeling so completely overwhelmed and weary.

And then Jaret spoke the words that my heart and mind needed to hear.  

From the backseat of the vehicle, Jaret was practicing his Bible Memory verses for school; reciting ten verses from the year to earn his Bible medal.  The verse was perfect.  It was a message that I needed to hear and truly God was speaking to me, knowing the exact words I needed at that precise moment.  I felt my whole body just let go of all the weariness and relax.  I was able to heed His words and know that I needed a new perspective.  I had allowed the everyday small stuff of life to overtake my thoughts and as a result I was feeling the heavy burden of weariness.

My thoughts needed refocusing.  What if, instead of focusing on the to do's and concerns in life, I focused on God?  Remembering the promise to persevere and not give up, realizing that continuing in the work will result in a harvest at just the right time.  Instead, relying on God, His love, His power, His provision, and His strength to face the small stuff and the bigger stuff that life brings our way. Instead of focusing on the difficulties and what might not be right in life, I need to be more consumed by Christ and all that is right as part of His perfect plan.

Being refocused on all that is right about God gives the right perspective.  The perspective we all need to keep in our mind as we face each day.

Life is full of lessons.  Jaret was running a race at school; the 400M as part of his fitness training in gym class.  When he came home that day, he was a little discouraged over not finishing as fast as he had hoped.  He was running close to the front when he was knocked over by another student.  Jaret got up and finished the race and his teacher commented on his character in getting back up to finish the race.  Jaret accepted that he didn't finish at the front but was most disappointed that the boy who knocked him over didn't even apologize.  It is moments like this that help to build character.  I was so proud of Jaret for how he handled himself in this situation.

A couple of days later, we had to revisit this lesson again and what it means from a different perspective.  Jaret came home from school completely overwhelmed.  He had offered to make rainbow loom bracelets for some friends at school and knew that with so many bracelets and the time and supplies that it would take, that he wouldn't get it all done in one night and he didn't want to accept that as good enough.  We discussed with him what it means to have a goal set before you and how we appreciated his kind heart for wanting to make these bracelets for people.  We talked him through persevering when a situation is tough or feels overwhelming and how at times like that we need to stop and focus on what truly matters and then move forward with perspective on how we can accomplish the goal. This method helped Jaret and in the lessons I was helping my son to learn, it was another good reminder to me to live this out and to be an example of this.

Jaret's friends at school were thrilled with the bracelets that he made them.  His heart was in the right place and he reaped a reward.  Sometimes as we go through life, we feel we need those rewards when we have worked so hard toward the goal and it can be hard when the everyday of life is too overwhelming.  Encouragement can go a long way to helping us persevere and in reminding us how far we have come and what we have accomplished.  While at work yesterday, I felt encouraged by a student who I have never taught and thanked her for how she uplifted me.  I had been observing in the Grade 5 classroom and she asked me out right if I could come and spend some time talking with her, she didn't like all the attention a few other students were getting.  In our conversation she asked me if I would ever teach again and that she thought I should really consider Grade 6 for next year so I could be her teacher.  A heart warming moment that reminded me that what I do does matter and that I do make a small impact on students.  I was also uplifted by a staff member who I don't work closely with who reaffirmed the sometimes difficult decisions I make and how they do positively affect our school community.  The encouragement came at just the right time and I was so grateful for this gift.

Last week at the Grade 12 Grad, we were able to celebrate our graduates.  It is these celebrations where we can stop with all the small stuff for a short time to celebrate how far we have come and to see the fruits of our labour.  In speaking with our secondary principal about the wonderful ceremony we had, I made a comment that we needed to bottle this moment and the feeling so that when we are dealing with those tough incidents on a regular school day, we can remember back to this moment and remember why we do what we do and be reminded that in the end, it does matter and that there is a reward.

Today I choose!  I choose to celebrate those moments.  I choose to focus on the harvest!  I choose to teach my children to walk in the ways of the Lord and help them learn about whose they are and to help them grow in character.  Today I choose to focus on all that is right about God!  I choose JOY!

My sunshine on a rainy, weary day!

Jaret reading his Bible.

He is reading Genesis and is so enthusiastic when
 reading about how old everyone in the Bible is.

While out for a walk one evening, Jaret couldn't resist the dandelion dust.

Enjoyed BCS Grad 2015
There were 36 graduates, and I taught
5 of them as part of my first class in Grade 3/4.
Unfortunately, I did not get a picture with all of them.
Missing Natalie Cox and Erin Wiberg.
I am very proud of the students I have taught
 and have enjoyed watching them grow.
They have done so well and I am excited to see where God leads them.

Nolan McMahon
(He even towers above our tallest teacher.)

Noah Epp

Emily Loveless