Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Snap (09/04/08)
-
TITLE: All in a Day's Work | Previous Challenge Entry
By Glorey Wooldridge
09/09/08 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I heard the yell and my heart jumped. The sound was emanating from the boys bathroom. I quickly walked to the door.
“What’s going on in there?” I asked as I simultaneously knocked on the unyielding wood.
The door opened and out hopped six year old Jace, bent over and holding the tab of his new white sneaker.
“The snap won’t work on my shoe, and I caaaan’t get it.” He whined with frustration.
“I see that you do indeed need help. What would be the polite way to ask?” I enquired.
“Can you please help me?” He mumbles.
“Absolutely, I can.” I answer and I pushed the snap together.
He looked at me and grinned, all frustration gone. “Thank you.”
“You are very welcome.” I responded.
Jace got a drink from the fountain and joined his classmates in the line-up.
“Our first week together went rather well.” I thought and I silently thanked God for the opportunity to once again work with grade one students.
Children have such different personalities. One little girl who doesn’t speak English has been befriended by a timid little girl. I overheard her attempt to speak a few Korean words to the smaller girl. Smiles are on both of their faces. Apparently the same language is not necessarily needed for good communication.
Lydia runs over to me at recess and hugs me tight. “You are my new teddy bear.” She says confidently. My unspoken thought is, “Hmmm, your mommy is about a SIZE ONE. No wonder I seem like a teddy bear to you.” I looked at her and smiled, thankful that she already feels at home among us.
Mary seems to me like an "old soul" in a little girl's person. She takes delight in anything that is of nature (grass, weeds, sticks, etc.) and has already told me she dislikes being last in line.
She is bright and enthusiastic, and is a wealth of interesting facts. At snack time she confidently informed me that “the money made on every one of these granola bars goes to help the pandas, you know.” No, I did not know that.
At lunch we said grace and there was a split second of total quiet. Mary started to root around in her lunch bag. She smiled, looked around and then exclaimed with gusto to the whole class, "MmmMmm, Dig in everyone!" I couldn't help but laugh. Already she has stolen a little piece of my heart. (If truth be known I have given it away.)
As the children ate their lunches I read a book about Clifford the dog with enthusiasm and lots of emphasis and all the children seem to love it. I saw smiles and heard giggles during the funny parts. Are they laughing at me or are they laughing at the story? It doesn’t matter. These little ones have not yet figured out how to hide the wonder of life and I find it both refreshing and encouraging.
Being in the midst of six year olds reminds me that we have God given appointments in the lives of others. There is always plan and purpose in the relationships we form, even if it is just for a season.
In this part of my life, I may "only" be an education assistant in a little classroom - but with God's grace, guidance, and blessing, I pray that I would help soundly educate these students so they can put their best foot forward while holding God's hand tightly. I want their memories of their earliest years to be good ones. It is a huge and in many ways, it is a fearful responsibility.
At the supper table that evening, my family enjoyed the wonderful tidbits of my day while I listened to stories of new friends made and look at new schedules. It is a great time for our family to unwind and to catch up. After supper, my husband looked at me over a cup of coffee and smiled broadly, “It is good to see you excited about what you do. I am glad you love your job.”
Later on as I get ready for bed, I think of my day and I pray that God would keep our students safe in His care and that it will indeed be a good year. And I sleep well.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
