Holding On

So this new boy...........

blonde, blue-eyed,

full of spunk.......

and confused feelings............

emotions unraveling at the slightest provocation,

the slightest transition, the slightest glance his way............

low self esteem and no easy way of processing his emotions..........and the frustration, anger and sadness that occurs because of it...........

and the speech/language delays with the emotional disturbance...........

and the love I already feel for this 6 year old boy.....this student...........

and what God is showing me.

Teaching trust.

Never easy for a boy who has seen and heard things that little boys in first grade shouldn't have to see........or hear............

.............a father who is not present.............

lashing out yet wanting to be reined in...........

and God showing me to teach trust.

Reaching for all the wisdom and experience I used 20 years ago in my preK class full of emotionally disturbed inner city children is starting to work for this little suburban, middle class boy..........

Teaching trust. 

 Teaching to hold on to the good and let go of the bad........

and knowing that there are adults who need this, too.

We hold on  to the bad sometimes forgetting the good.

And God.....He wants us to take His Hand and let Him lead..........

and trust Him.

Like little R needs to take my hand and let me lead.............

and trust me...........

with his emotions.............and teach him how to sort them and use them in appropriate ways.

And I embrace the challenge because I know that God challenges me in teaching these kinds of children...........and God challenges me when I remember the bad and forget the good.........

and He challenges me to trust......

and to hold on.........

and in that challenge I learn as much as the boy............

hold on.......

hold hand with one who cares because of the One who cares......

and trust..........

holding on