Blessed.

Like most days, today I’m feeling blessed.  Really, REALLY blessed. Not only am I a mommy to two precious, precious boys, but I’m also a school mommy to 19 precious little souls.  Little babies who wake up each day and come to school with an innate faith that they will be cared for and loved.  Precious little people whose biggest problems are playground woes, runny noses, untied shoes, and lost jackets. Innocent little loves who are BEYOND thrilled to see my reaction when they draw me a picture, pick me a flower, or tell me that they love me.  So very, very innocent.

As a mommy to my own two littles, I wake up everyday with the faith that my boys will happily go off to school without me by their side and never feel alone because they know they’re loved and cared for by their teacher{s}.  That same faith promises me that I’ll see them at the end of each school day with a smile on their face and a story in their heart.  I’m certain that the parents of the 20 little Sandy Hook angels that went to be with Jesus had that same faith as me. 

Now things are different.  While my school babies may not be worried about their safety at school, an entire community of kids will forever be changed by the events that took place in Connecticut. Teachers frantically practice safety procedures & protocol.  Parents wonder if school is a safe place for their kids.  It’s hard not to wonder what our world is coming to when elementary school kids are the target of a madman’s rage.  SO senseless and unexplainable.  No reason or motive could ever justify the evil that swept through Sandy Hook Elementary.

But I still believe in good.  And I know that the good FAR outweighs the evil.  Goodness was overflowing this morning as all my little babies walked in my room beaming from ear to ear ready to start our day.  I hugged each and every single one of my kids as hard as I could and told them how much I loved them and was SO happy they were there to spend the day with me :)  Mercy…I LOVE those kids!!!  It’s amazing how 19 {not-so-little} hugs can totally lift my spirits.  My own little boys woke up early this morning and raced to our advent calendar.  My oldest, Landon, wanted to know what was in store for today, so I told him.  He said, “No mommy, not the fun thing.  Tell me about the KIND thing.  I wanna know what KIND thing we’re doing for people today.”  And then my heart broke.  In a good way.  There is still SO much goodness in the world and we {teachers…and parents, too!!} have been given the most amazing blessing to be able to foster such kindness in our kids. 

I truly believe that God gives every one of us specific talents and desires to fulfill His purpose.  For those of us that are teachers, I believe it was His calling on our hearts.  He hand-picked each of us to care for, love, teach, and protect all of His little angels.  How amazing to know that God has such faith in us to give us such an important job!!  As I continue to mourn the loss of so many little lives and pray for their friends and families, I promise to remember God’s calling on my life each day I walk into my classroom.   Thank you, God, for this indescribable blessing.