First Day Like No Other

Beautiful Life

With each passing summer season comes a new school year- my babies getting older and moving to the next grade, excitement for what the school year will hold in its new beginning, a new crop of third graders who teach me just as many lessons as I teach them.

Perhaps the first lesson I needed to learn this year was to not be all consumed. As this is my eleventh year, I have struggled with this year after year. I do believe the stereotype of an old maid teacher is accurate. Teachers who put their hearts and souls into their students can lose themselves in the endless tasks of each day. There is always more you want to do and more that needs to be done. My personal children have helped me to distinguish between tasks that are necessary and those that I can put on the shelf for another time.

This year amidst the busyness of the beginning, my life outside of teaching took the first place seat. I had to say goodbye to my Grandmama. And although I had the whole summer to prepare for the moment, I found myself unprepared- like someone who left the house without an umbrella on the rainiest of days. Sorrows like sea billows rolled up inside of me whenever anyone spoke to me about losing her.

On the very first day of the new school year, I was only there for the first half of the day. Something, before now, that was unthinkable. The first day of school is just as much a milestone for the teacher as it is for the students. You have to welcome them in, remember how to operate the machine known as the classroom again, and get them all home safely. Not typically a daunting task, but on the first day, it is all about the basics. Instead of fretting over these small but huge details, I had to totally change gears. The rest of the day was spent honoring my Granny and the love she instilled in us by her daily devotion to her family -perhaps the Godliest person I will ever know. What a legacy she leaves behind- one that will continue to reveal itself to me as I am reminded of the lessons I learned from her and as I aspire to be the same kind of woman she was.

Cam - First Day of 1st Grade

I told many people who came to pay their respects: If I could hear her now, she would be saying, "I am sorry for doing this on your first week of school, Sugar. You don't have to leave those children to come to my funeral." She always put others' needs above her own. And as inconvenient as it was in the life of a teacher, all of my students made it home safely on the first day, and all those extra little things I would have been working on so diligently really weren't necessary after all.

Maeve- First Day of Preschool 3Day3s

Granny, please continue to help me remember the only thing that should ever be all-consuming is my relationship with my Savior. Thank you for putting my priorities in line for this school year and for making it a first day like no other.

Oh My Soul

Songs have a way of touching my heart just when I need them.  I think the song "Springsteen" gets it just right when it says, "a melody sounds like a memory."  And it is through music that I have felt a stronger worship than any other time.  I love being able to sing a song and recall the worship I experienced through it.  All summer we have heard this song on the radio every time we get in the car:

"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)"

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name

Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name

I'll worship Your holy name

Of course I belt it out, and now my kiddos do too.  I usually end up singing the chorus for the rest of the day.  Each verse has spoken to me.  The first one that really grabbed me this summer was the last verse. When it says, "my strength is failing and the end draws near,"  I see my sweet Granny.  This summer has been tough on her and tough to watch.  A kidney stone has put a huge damper on her frail body.   She's been in the hospital, in the nursing home, back in the hospital, and now at a personal care home.  This summer she has lost all of the the little bit of independence she held on to since losing Granddaddy.  It has been like watching her fade away just a little bit at a time.  She sleeps so much and the little bit that she talks is spoken faintly.  But, in true Granny fashion, she is holding fast to Him.  I crawled up beside her in her hospital bed, and as we lay there together, she sang "Jesus Loves Me" louder than I have ever heard her sing it. Worshipping and clinging to His promises all the way to Heaven.  Although it is so hard to let go of the Granny I have known all of my life - her home where we could always find a welcome greeting and humble feast, the little spot on the church pew she filled up every Sunday, the talks on the telephone when you could reach her without getting a busy signal -  I find great peace in knowing that she set an example for me in so many ways.  I know I want to be like her and sing His praise unending.  She will have a seamless worship as she leaves this life and enters into her eternal life with Him and all the loved ones there who are anxiously awaiting her arrival.

Now as the summer draws to an end, I relate to the first and second verses.  Although work is work, I am so fortunate to know that my work is also my mission.  I don't just punch a clock and complete a task.  And sometimes, I admit, I would like the simplicity of a job like that.  Each and every day, I have a huge task that awaits me.  I have 40+ children waiting on me to lead and guide them.  Yes, I do teach them, but a huge part of my work with them is leading and guiding them in life - in all of its choices and in all of its consequences.  It is my prayer this year that I start my day singing praises to Him and end it in the same way:  "Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me. Let me be singing when the evening comes."   I hope I reflect His qualities of being "slow to anger" and having a "heart that's kind" to all my students and to my family as we settle into our new daily routines.   


My soul is so thankful for this life-changing track.