Kicked in the Head!

Ooouch!  What was that?!  Wait a second… what time is it?  4:03 a.m.?  Seriously!!  What’s today?  Oooowch, again!  Now that really hurts!  Nothing like a swift kick in the head on an early Wednesday morning.  Hold on now, what WAS that!  I rubbed the back of my head when next a pair of feet, kid size 13, ran up my back.  Oh, I forgot you were there Levi.  Wait a second… my back is.NOT.a.trampoline!  I think that’s gonna bruise!

All I can say is “good thing it’s not Dan!”  Now that I’m WIDE awake at 4 in the morning, thank you very much Levi!  You see, our kindergartner slept between us that night due to a raging fever.  On Tuesday, April 12^th, he stayed home from school with a double ear infection.  This was the first time ever I went to work and a wee Hott one stayed home sick with Daddy.  Yes, I am still a substitute teacher for a 5^th grade class.  Looks like I’ll be there until the end of the school year.

With nearly another two hours before my alarm would go off to start another day in front of 28 ten year olds, I found myself WIDE awake.  Ever do that?  So, I checked Levi’s fever.  Looks like he’ll be staying home another day.  Took his head out of Dan’s armpit and scooted him vertical in the bed again between us.

There.  Still another 90 minutes until my alarm is due to go off.  Come on sleep.  Hummmm.  Listening to Levi, …and Dan, snore loudly, I found myself tossing and turning, thinking about the day ahead… and the two previous days at school.

You see, this was the week prior to Spring  Break for our students.  Out of nearly two months of substituting, our class of fifth graders were feeling another fever:  Spring Break Fever!  In all of my inexperience, this was something totally new – and crazy!  I had given out more detention and completely taken recess from the entire class.  Needless to say, I was not really looking forward to Wednesday.

So, what was the problem?  Since I was awake, anyway, I decided to chat with God about Levi’s illness and my troublesome fifth graders.  God said to me, “I missed you yesterday.”

Hugh?  Let’s see.  That would have been Tuesday morning.  God missed me?  I ran through the events of that morning.  Levi was home sick.  A parent chewed me out in the hall.  The students were acting out.  Hummm…

“I missed you.”

OH!  Then I realized what happened.  You see, each morning before I walk in Mrs. Burkhart’s classroom, God comes in with me.  I ask him to, you see.  This substitute teaching is something I can’t do on my own.  And these students, I think, barely know our loving heavenly father.  So, each morning, I ask God to go to school with me.  Yes, to come to fifth grade and sit through spelling and social studies, math, and more!

I realize that I am not allowed to talk about God at school; but, I don’t tell the principal that He comes with me every day.  Each day, I pray that in some way, God uses me as an instrument not only to educate these children but also to exhibit His love and kindness.  As I “preach” daily to the students to “BE NICE” to each other, it is my prayer for them to grow up as caring AND smart individuals.

On Tuesday morning, I was so flustered, I forgot my prayer to invite God to come to school with me.  On Wednesday, at 4:00 a.m.!, HE reminded me!

Although I am only a substitute teacher, for God, there – is – no – substitute!  And, it seems for some of these kids, that this is a once in a lifetime chance for them to see God’s love, even if  it’s through my short little grayed haired self.  I know that I can NEVER be a substitute for Him, but right now, I am all they have… all five feet of me.

So, thanks for the reminder God!  And, thanks for the kick in the head. I needed that!  Although it is hard to leave Dan at home and my sick baby, I am thankful for all those days you come to work with me.  Tomorrow, I’ll remember to walk into the classroom — with You!

Hope you’re ready!

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23

Copyright © Angie Hott, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved