Day 23 - Lessons From a Fish Tale

I've heard a saying that people will change jobs every 6 - 7 years.  Not real sure of the background of that, but I've heard it a couple of different times.

When I started teaching, I was eager to do a great job.  My first class was awesome.  I was fresh and so into my job.  After a few years, I was frustrated.  It seemed I no longer taught students, I taught tests. I was also teaching myself to be careful in the workplace.  It was getting to the point where I was not trusting those I worked with.  Frankly, I was getting pretty unhappy. 

Then the opportunity to move schools came up.  I was against it.  I was "comfortable" where I was.  The other school wasn't in the best neighborhood, but I would still be teaching the same community of students.  Another coworker and I were approached by the administrators who were really "talking up" the move.  They felt with our experience we would be great leaders moving to that school and they really wanted us to consider it.  The other teachers in my grade level were allowed to stay at the old school and the two of us were shipped across town.  I was not happy about it.

However, I soon came to the realization that this was a good move.  The backstabbing and politicals of old were no longer worries of mine. I was given the opportunity to teach the way I was comfortable teaching, the way that fit my style and the learning styles of my students.  I was given leadership roles. I made new friends. I was happy again.

Now what I haven't mentioned is that in the old school I was not a Christian for the first several years I worked there.  I fell into Satan's traps many times with gossip and anger.  After I turned my life over to Jesus, my "friends" turned away from me for the most part.  I was no longer a part of any group. 

At the school I'm at now, my coworkers and friends have only known me one way.  They didn't know me before Jesus came into my life.  I've told them "my story," and they look to me for support and love. 

I thought I could never move schools, but Jesus took care of me.  He held my hand, nudged me along, and helped me find a new comfortable. He brought me from a place that left me feeling insecure and cautious to a place I could open up and grow. It was all a God thing.

One thing that I continue to learn is that if we allow God to use work through us, He will do amazing things, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others. 

Since I've been at my new school, God has given me the strength to overcome my insecurities to call coworkers on the phone to pray with them.  I was able to be there for a coworker when her grandmother died (I wasn't even supposed to be at that part of the building at that time).  I was able to comfort two students whose moms died of cancer.  I was able to raise money for Relay for Life in honor of my students who were cancer survivors.  Hopefully those things that God has allowed me to do didn't stop when those moments were over.  Hopefully those moments touched someone and they will be a better person and love my Jesus more.

A church member friend told our study group several years ago about The Prayer of Jabez. As a new Christian, I was taking in all of the things these strong Christian women were telling me.  I ran out got on eBay and bought the book and journal. I then posted the following prayer in my car and prayed it each morning on my way to work:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested. I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV


I think those moments I was blessed with at LES were answers to this prayer.  God enlarged my territory by making me available to do His work.  When I was in His will, He was keeping me from evil.

I think I need to begin praying this once more on a daily basis as I feel I am not doing enough for Him.