Post by JeepGirl on Dec 23, 2016 19:49:45 GMT
Sometimes we are so saddened by our estrangements we often forget the blessings God gives us this time of year.
First of all, our Poodlegirl won't forget hers. Reunited with her son and family. Her joy must be indescribable and we are all so happy for her and for the hope it gives each of us.
Second, I know bythestream did a Christmas presentation with kids and the parents were so appreciative. I would guess many more wore blessed then she even knows.
For me, who really didn't want to substitute teach this year, God gave me several opportunities at school. I spent one lunch with several students and one was a muslim girl (middle school). It was obvious that the boys came to the class during lunch to use their laptops and play games but she was sitting all by herself. When I asked her why she even had lunch in the class, she told me she had no one to sit with at lunch. She went on to share how she was bullied and made fun of in elementary school and she wanted to take her life. When her parents found out they took her for counseling. She said it helped. Now she is in 6th grade and she told me she wants to start a group for kids being bullied and she has been working on a program. I told her that every school has a bullying specialist, which she didn't know about, and I encouraged her in the project and suggested she talk to the specialist and share her idea. She was the sweetest girl and so bright and articulate. I told her the girls were missing out on her friendship and that I would pray for her.
Yesterday, I reluctantly took a job at a my daughters' sons' high school. I was finished with subbing until after Christmas. I actually had my grandson's Spanish class and he told my daughter he felt bad that I would have to deal with this one boy in the class. But my daughter knows me and told him not to worry, "Grandma likes those kids" (lol) It was their last full day of school and it was a little unorthodox but I brought a box of candy for the classes (candycanes, chocolate, etc.) To my surprise the school gave all the kids free cookies at lunch and even had Santa (at high school). Of course, the kids loved the candy and were surprised and extremely thankful and polite. The boy my grandson thought would be difficult actually came back when I had another class and brought me his cookies from lunch.
Lastly, in one of the other classes I had yesterday, there was a boy who kept his head down the entire period and definitely was not about to do work assigned on the board. When the box of candy was passed around he said he didn't want any. He sat by himself in the back of the class and after awhile I went back with the candy again and he said he "hates Christmas." With that, I sat next to him so others couldn't hear our conversation, and I told him there were lots of people who got sad around Christmas.....some remember bad things in the past, some have illnesses in their family and don't want to celebrate, some people had family/friends who died around this time. After I said that, he told me "That is my problem. My dad died." Can you imagine what emotions went thru me? God gave me the chance to talk to him privately, kids were great, doing their assignments. I told him how you can miss someone you loved but still enjoy Christmas. He didn't quite get it but when I said, "someday, when you are a dad, you will be so happy your kids love you but you wouldn't want them to be sad if something happened to you." His eyes teared up a little and class was about over. As he was getting up, I said, "I will keep you in my prayers. Please enjoy this Christmas for your dad."
I thank God for those privileges He gave me to be used this Christmas season.
