Don't Let Your Circumstances Determine Your Attitude

So...today was the last day of 3 days of teacher "in service". For those who don't know this is when teachers are fed information on how to best reach their students, what are the new goals of the school this year, how to make a difference, and so on and so fourth. After 8 years as a teacher I thought I had heard it all. But today we learned about something called the "Fish Philosophy". If embraced could quite possibly change the climate of the school. I'm praying that it is embraced because I'm ready for a FRESH injection in my daily Work life instead of the same old thing. Students need Fun, Hope, Encouragement, to Feel Special. This is the first program I've seen that really seems to incorporate that without seeming contrived.

• Be There
• Play
• Make Their Day
• Choose Your Attitude
  

This year marks the beginning of a new school year for me at a new school. This will be the 3rd year in a row that I am transferred to a new school. The first was voluntary but the last two were not. I must say with the first transfer that occurred last year I had a choice over two schools....one that seemed very dismal and like a prison as far as teaching "happy" goes and the second choice seemed much more bearable. Neither of which would have been a place I really wanted to go. I wanted to stay exactly where I was....COMFORTABLE! The year that followed was less than ideal to say the least. While I did make many valuable friendships...the job was less than pleasurable and I didn't truly enjoy my work. Then at the end of the school year, this past May, I received notice that yet again I was being forced into a transfer. The ironic thing is that the place I was being sent was the place I turned down last year that seemed like the dismal prison! . Fast forward to this week.

Today, I've completed 3 days of in service at this "prison" and I've learned a few things. It is NOT a prison, the people are wonderful, and I cannot imagine why in the heck I believed the lie that said....you'll be miserable if you go there. From what I can see I'll be very happy and able to impact my students in a way I've never been before. This is because I will have much much smaller classes and much more flexibility as a teacher.

So, yet again I'm reminded of a poem "The WEAVER". In this poem one's life is compared to a tapestry being woven by God. If you've ever seen a tapestry and had a chance to examine it you would see that the underside is a little messy looking and its not pretty at all but the upper side is the beautiful side. For the past two years I've looked at circumstances in my life and allowed them to determine my attitude. All I've looked at is the underside of the tapestry God was weaving. I didn't understand the things that were taking place and why it was happening to me! I was angry at the situation. Through this poem I'm reminded that though I see the underside of the tapestry it is GOD who sees the upper side and sometimes that's not revealed until he's ready. Once it is you realize He was in control all along. All I had to do is Trust and Obey. I could have saved myself a lot of strife by simply Trusting and Obeying. Now I am in a place that I know I'll be happier. So what if the circumstances of my transfer were "unjust". I'll spare you all the details of that injustice just to say this. It was meant to be anyway! :)

God is Good!