Prayer: Lord, may all of us working in education rejoice, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace, and be made complete, knowing without a doubt, the God of love and peace will be with us. Amen.
Scripture: Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 NAS
May is finally here! For many of you, these are your last weeks of school. For some of you, June cannot come soon enough! As April showers bring May flowers, the end of the school year allows you to see the “fruits of your labor” in the growth and accomplishments of your students. The stacks of papers you have graded, the tests they groaned their way through, the projects that piled up in your classroom are all history, and the finish line is in sight.
These weeks can be very trying and emotional. For some, time has flown by too quickly and there is still so much to do. For those of you with students who are promoting or graduating there is this battle within you of caring deeply for them, maybe for several years as you watched them grow up in your school, and the readiness to see them go as they become harder and harder to get focused and finish strong. What are your biggest challenges during this part of the year?
Tragedy, in all age groups, sadly seems to come more frequently around this time of year as we receive more prayer requests for injury and death due to bad choices concerning alcohol, sex, drugs, and suicide during the months between prom and graduation. Know that we pray with you during these months over your students and families.
“Complete” is the Greek transliterated word Katartisis, meaning a strengthening, perfecting of the soul, a training, disciplining, instructing. God began a great work in you at the beginning of this year and as promised, He saw you through with blessings, tests, victories, and holidays. In the hustle and bustle of these last weeks I beg you to stick together, flock like sheep, encourage one another daily, and live in love and peace with one another. You may have been known as “those people who pray together” all year; maybe even “Jesus freaks!” You have been surrounded by many witnesses, watching to see how you will handle the tough times and tougher students. They have listened in on your conversations in the teacher’s lounge to see if you will complain or gossip. They watch to see if you will flip out when the words, “Budget cuts” are uttered. You have proven yourself a person of faith, but May, and for some of you, June, will TEST that faith even further than it has been all year long. Remain steadfast and comforted as God takes this opportunity to strengthen, discipline, and instruct you; making you complete for such a time as this.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email kbranzell@ceai.org
