Tough Days - Tuesdays

Not all days are easy. Today was one of those days. To begin - it was Tuesday.

I don't like Tuesdays. I have PLC on Tuesday morning @ 7:00. Our school has its "study hour" on Tuesdays and its annoying to me since some of my classes make it difficult to work with students from other classes that need assistance.

I am only one person. I am asked for assistance from many people at a time. So many students who want help and all at once and I'm only one person. I feel so overwhelmed. I mean - I wasn't even in my room today and they found me!

During my first class of the day, I ask a student a simple question, "Which shape is larger, the image or preimage?" The student responds that he doesn't know. I'm amazed - that he can't tell which shaped is bigger? I ask my co-teacher to assist; he doesn't know how to make the question any clearer. So we ask another student to try to explain it to him and the student responds, "I know the answer, I just don't like answering questions when they call on me so I don't." UN- freaking - BELIEVEABLE! I am so angry!

On to the next class when they are taking a quiz. During our review before the quiz, one of the students said, "Where was I when we learned that?" Another, "I didn't know we were taking a quiz." And yet another student, "You never taught us that." Again, I am frustrated, overwhelmed, and angry.

Then, I check my e-mail during lunch and realize I have to fill out paper work for my mom's surgery. I actually have to have her doctor fill out a form too.

On to that fabulous "study period". I have class of 25 students and 7 students coming for tutoring in another subject. Frustrating because the students in my class don't want to work, but want to socialize and the 7 students who have come for help - WANT to learn!

Last period - finally. Another quiz - more surprised students and more questions. Finally - afternoon announcements. So the day is over - however it isn't.

Seven different students arrived for after school help.  Five students - want to prepare for the quiz tomorrow - great students. Two want to review the test we took so they can retake it - good students. I work with them until 3:30 and then complete my day writing a quiz for Geometry, filling out forms for my special education students and checking grades for my seniors to make sure they are passing.

I'm just tired - I know all of the things I described are my job. But somedays are tougher than others. I believe most of the tough days are Tuesdays.

Does anybody remember what happened on this day?

That is a question my mom loves to ask us. She keeps track of things that are exciting or require prayer or both in her devotional book. So when she reads her devotions for this year – she also relives a host of other years in the process.

So while we are waiting for mom to be admitted to the hospital @ 6:00 AM Tuesday morning, mom asks, “Does anybody know what we were doing 3 years ago today?”

No one does – but mom knows – it was recorded in her devotional.

March 5, 2010 – my mom, sister, her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law went shopping for dresses for my sister’s wedding.

March 5, 2013 – my mom has surgery for breast cancer. Everything is good now and we are hopefully waiting the pathology reports.

 

I’ve been thinking about that record my mom has. It’s very encouraging. It’s a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the past. A source of hope for the future. Like milestones with Jesus, a reminder that He is on the throne and still listening to our prayers.

There are also dates in that devotional that mark the deaths of loved ones – of things that didn’t turn out as we had expected. But nothing is a surprise to God. He knows how it will work out – He needs us to trust Him with the outcome no matter what.

I’m thinking of starting to record things in my devotional – so that each year I can remember all that God has been with me through.