Renewed, and the tenth leper

It's been an amazing two weeks since I returned from NCCAT.

All the classes are deeply involved in their individual projects. Kinders are finishing up their watercolor rainbows, first graders are about to finish their oil pastel apples, second graders are almost done with their oil pastel grapefruits, third graders are about to begin their foreign Country projects, fourth graders are about to complete their structured line doodles, and fifth graders have begun their cave art work for the Cave Man Art Gallery that will go up (somehow and somewhere) just after Halloween.

I laugh at myself trying to keep up with the transition between classes. I'll have to admit that the kinders are teaching me the most. They are the most courageous and delightful kids I have ever worked with. From them I am learning to be more patient, to appreciate the simplest of things, and not to rush through life. They find the greatest joy in watching their water turn colors when they clean their brushes.

For five year olds who have been in school for just about a month, they are picking up the essentials of classroom behaviors in a timely manner. For instance, sitting at their desk, listening for instructions, following directions, lining up, cleaning up... they are learning my routine very well. I have never thought I could be a kindergarten teacher because the kids have so much to learn about the classroom environment alone, not to mention the reading and math preparations: my respect for them (kinder teachers) is very high.

My greatest challenge has been to get the room cleaned up for the next class in less than five minutes! I have found that the kinders are the best floor cleaners... when I tell them to check the floor for dropped brushes, paper towel trash, or just anything, they will pick up every thing they find, and proudly offer it to me. And because I am grateful to them for doing all that bending over (which they can do with greater ease than I), I thank them with great flourish and cheer.

The good news is that I am 'getting the hang of it.'

Today in Sunday School I taught the lesson about Jesus and the ten lepers (Luke 17: 11-18). I knew what I wanted the kids to get from the story, and they did, but I didn't realize what I would get from teaching it.

Jesus healed ten lepers that day, but only one came back to thank him for it, to praise God for being cleansed. It reminded me that I haven't really thanked God for giving me this day that I live in right now, the day that the Lord has made.

I am grateful that this year I've been called into teaching art. What is most remarkable about this is that when I first considered a teaching field back in 1996, I had not thought teaching art would be a practical choice since most schools were not hiring art teachers at the time.

I had no idea that in my ninth year I would be granted that opportunity. There was no clue or hint along the way that such a move would be possible in our school system. Even as any of us were unaware, events had taken place over the years, putting into play what would result in the position becoming available, and finally made known to me. I can only know them in hindsight. That is often the way of life's turning points.

I thank all the people who made it possible. Right here and right now: THANK YOU!

But mostly, I thank the Lord for His part in my life, for my life, for making it possible to do things that I thought were impossible, for letting me see what I did not see before, for being the lamp at my feet... I am grateful to Him for this great renewal.

If I am to be one of the ten who was cleansed, I want to be like the one that went back and fell flat on his face at the feet of Jesus to say "Thank you, Lord!"

He knows the words of my heart. I say "Thank you, Lord."