![]() Every now and then someone asks me to explain how in the world I embarked on a career teaching French and Spanish. Next, this someone might pipe up with extra-curiosity wanting to know which one I like better. Do I like French better than Spanish or Spanish better than French? There are so many ways to answer this question. My response goes something like this: It’s a like having two kids. I’m trying to raise them right, give them each enough attention that meets the needs. Sure, these two are related, but they are still very different and have specific requirements. Thank goodness, both like to travel with me! Short version- I fell in love with French in college, so I kept taking classes. I fell in love with Spanish when I was offered a job that would pay me enough to live on my own. This desperate 29-year-old was divorced, living with parents again. I quite literally learned another language and began teaching it so that I could secure my freedom. That is some serious motivation. Teaching is my career choice and one I’m very grateful for every day; however, teaching French and Spanish is a God thing. I’m blessed that I know I’m doing what is fulfilling to me even though it’s some of the hardest stuff I’ve ever done in my life. Most teachers will agree that to teach, we must recognize the intrinsic value of a human potential. We must value respect and kindness. Teaching is its most gratifying when we watch kids grasp the simple lessons we offer them. We teachers see this transformation in its beginning or middle because we rarely get to see the end result. Teaching is most rewarding when we invest in the process, not for the final result. I love all the tiny teaching moments. Sometimes, teaching is like waiting for the cows to come home. It is a long, somewhat indefinite process, and kids have their own pace. Most days I’m exhausted and invigorated at the same time. Crying and laughing in the same minute. With relief. With pride. With concern. So many of you- my teacher friends, parents, and family- are hanging in there. Hanging on by a thread. or Hanging your head in exhaustion. or Ready to hang up your teaching hat because IT.HAS.BEEN.A.YEAR of crazy stress as we all learned how to teach virtually. The pandemic profoundly altered our lives. You may be tired. Skeptical. Frustrated with circumstances beyond your immediate control but still trying to walk in faith. It’s an inch by inch, hold your ground existence. Yet you’ve kept walking despite the uncertainty about why things happen the way they do. This stuff shakes even the strongest of believers. Corrie Ten Boon reminded me of something important in her devotion, and I’ll pass along to you: God is real. I talked to Him this morning. Christ the Lord is fighting for you. You are only asked to remain faithful. to not rely on your own understanding. or your own wisdom. or your own strength. You are asked to not rely on anger or bitterness or envy of others to carry you through the day. You are asked to rely on Him. In this time of struggle and pain, we sometimes need to be reminded of how beautiful we are. Look how He made us to choose Him despite everything around us that says choose differently. His peace passes all understanding. There are days that I don’t understand much. There are days that He reveals wonderful things to me. I don’t ever know which day it will be, yet I hang on to His word and my faith. Corrie’s devotion was a good reminder for me. I’m a mom, wife, teacher, daughter, and friend by the grace of God. I try to be quite original about the calling God has given me. We can each see our calling even when everything else seems dark and terribly difficult. My job is to teach and live out my calling with all of God’s mysteries that come with it. God is fighting for you. Use His strength when you don’t have the answers. Be kind to yourself first. Be kind to each other. We’ve been fighting things that we can’t overcome on our own. I’ll be praying for me and you- Till the cows come home. photo by ella
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JoAnna Arnold
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