Herding Cats

   A new school year has begun and I find myself teaching nineteen small, wiggling bodies how to sit, stay, listen, open milk cartons, how to be bucket-fillers, and other academic and social things that will help them be better people, hopefully. A week or so ago, I saw a meme that explained that sometimes, classroom management is similar to herding cats. Being a cat person and having had many feline friends growing up, I can immediately identify with and chuckle at the irony the meme puts forth. Children, like cats, have minds of their own and do not necessarily care if their actions please you or not. It's quite unfortunate. But it's also just part of the job. Not only do I have to teach academia, I also have to teach behavior, good citizenship, and basic life-skills, like tying shoes and flushing the toilet.

   I'm doing better now, but the two weeks leading up to the beginning of school found me in panic mode. I was terrified to teach again. The last two months of the previous year went...horribly. My kiddos completely lost their heads and forgot every single classroom rule, as well as some of the playground rules. Nothing seemed to work, not positive reinforcement, negative, bribes, time-outs...nothing. So with my confidence in my abilities not existing, I prepared for the new year with a large amount of trepidation. I actually bawled the Friday before, and leaked a few tears the day before school started as well.

   The day of school dawned and by the end of the day, I felt much more confident about teaching for another year. And I realized something anew- my God answers my prayers and He is always with me. He didn't throw me to the fishes (or the cats). He goes before me and behind me, and is beside me all day, every day. I do not have to do this in my own strength. He doesn't want me to.

   Will I still make mistakes in the way I handle different situations and lessons? You bet. But, my God is bigger than my mistakes. I continue to ask for wisdom for the next day and for His strength, also. If I can remember to dwell in His presence and strive to bring Him glory in all of my actions, I will be so much better off at the end of this year.

   I lost sight of my purpose at the end of last year. I forgot that I am to bring God glory through my words and actions. This purpose should be my motivation for getting up in the morning. My prayer is that I will remember my purpose every day this year-that I won't take my eyes off of Jesus and sink in the waves. I want to walk on water with Jesus this year as I herd nineteen little cats.

My life is in you, Lord,

My strength is in you, Lord,

My hope is in you, Lord.

In you, it's in you.

I will praise you with all of my life,

I will praise you with all of my days,

With all of my life, with all of my days,

All of my hope is in you!