So Much More Than Book-Learning

Some teachers are extremely driven by their curriculum; they make solid year plans and detailed weekly plans and dynamic day-to-day plans, all with the goal of soaring through textbooks and novels and writing curricula.

I was like that. 

Things can change quickly over a weekend; I don't mean to be cryptic, but let it rest at that, without any other details. When something tragic and scary happens to a student, and a teacher sits in class Monday morning with six instead of seven others, she realizes her inadequacy. I didn't even have a tissue box for the ones who cried. Words--even the empty words that I have had repeated to me over and over--didn't leave my mouth, as my own sadness blocked any possible success at communication. 

God is gracious; he proves himself a source of strength for weeks like this one.

Teaching is more than a catalyst for book learning. It is an investment in lives of young people who are sometimes in desperate need of comfort and encouragement. These are things I can give but so very, very poorly. I have so much to learn.