Feeling Blessed on this Lovely Sabbath!

A re-post from facebook with a little more ...

This was a crazy week. 

Last Sunday I was so sick to my stomach.  I am still not sure if was a food poisoning or the stomach flu, but OIY! it was miserable.  I had planned to get a lot done that day, but I could only barely make it from the bed to the bathroom the entire day.  So the plans I had for that lovely Sunday just washed away.  I then was not prepared for class the next day for what I had planned for, which in turn got me behind in my lesson plans.  It also didn't help that the students were all rather antsy, angsty and irritable all week.  There was this simmering going on, and I watched a majority of the students start to really show disrespect to not just to me, but all the teachers in some fashion or another.  They just weren't feeling good this last week.  A grandparent of a student passed away a couple weeks ago and another one this week.  Students have been fighting colds all week long.  They are lacking sleep and well, being typical teenagers when the weather and seasons change.

Needless to say, it wasn't the most joyous of weeks.  Though each day, thankfully, there was a blessing and a smile to be found.  Not all students were out of sorts, but those that were still pleasant, were the ones who were fighting colds and sleep deprivation from stress of upcoming AP tests. I was feeling as though I really wasn't much of a teacher to my students lately. Thus I am doubly glad it is Sabbath, but a bit worn out.

Then this afternoon, a parent of a student came to me took my arm, patted it and told me something in Korean, very solemnly. I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was a little nervous, had I done something I shouldn't have, and were they trying to let me know, had a made a silly mistake (ok, something is wrong when these are the first things that pop in my head).  Then a friend translated what was said and tears threatened to spill. This parent told me that I have been so good for the students and that they, students and parents, feel blessed to have me here as their teacher and then very respectfully and sincerely, using honorifics, told me thank you. 

Ohh, I am surprised I didn't break down in tears right then and there. I expressed my thanks as well and mentioned that the students have been such a blessing to me as well and I feel such joy and honor to work with them and thanked them.  This parent may not know just how much that meant to me, but it was just amazing and a blessing.

My students are (and have been) such a joy in my life (even when some days they aren't as much fun to be around, I love them all sooo very much). I wish to help them find their own way to become successful and learn how to be independent and show them how much God loves them too.  It breaks my heart when they are hurting or when they make mistakes.  Joy is overwhelming when they have successes and joy in their lives.  I'm so proud of 'my kids' who have graduated from college over the last two years!  I am not a parent myself, God hasn't blessed me with that at this time, but He has blessed me with so many students who have become my kids.  Once you're my kid, you're always one of my kids.  They are all so precious to me. I miss seeing each of them, but enjoy hearing from many (and their parents alike) from time to time.  DON'T BE STRANGERS!!! though I know, the timezone thing is a bit difficult to connect with each other at times, I hope you all know how much I LOVE YOU  and think about you and pray for you ... I am richly blessed to have so many 'kids' in my life.