God's Crazy Plans

Shortly after the 9/11 tragedy I remember an email going around that listed people that had things happen to them on the morning of 9/11 that made them late for work or miss work.  One guy missed the train, another had a blister and stopped in the store to get an bandaide, another had a child that was sick and didn't go to work.  if each of those annoying situations would not have happened to them, they would have been in the World Trade Center on that morning.

Sometimes I think of the things that go on in my life, and what God could be using them for.

Today I went into work, brought lunch for a coworker and I, and planned on working on some things I had not had a chance to do this past week.  Well after we enjoyed our lunch I went to get to work, and found something awful.  The folder on our schools shared drive that holds every behavior document my coworker and I share, was missing.  I checked three computers and each had no behavior file on it. I restarted the computer, thinking that might do something, but no such luck.  I called my coworker, but she didn't answer.  I eventually figured, well I guess there is no point for me to stay here, I might as well leave.  And that I did.  I ran a few errands, went to some store that I enjoy and then went home.

All that while, I thought why did this happen?  I hoped that my school had a backup server for our files, but deep down, I knew Gods hand was in this.  I knew that He is totally in control of my life and if He wanted me doing something today, he may cause a computer error to make it happen.  You see, I serve a mighty God who knows everything that happens in the world with each invidvidual person on it.

I'm sure if you've read this far you are waiting for how God used me, seeing that I didn't use my few free hours on a Sunday catching up on work.  Well I don't have an answer.  I have no idea why that happened and I'm not sure I ever will.  One thing is for sure.  I will trust God for today, and tomorrow.  And then after tomorrow, I'll trust him again.  If my files are gone, He will still be good.

God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply. -Hudson Taylor

I am the Student, They are my Teachers

I have a some what unhealthy addiction to reading a million blogs about families with Children with different needs.  I recent started reading one about a young man with an incredible mom who sees him for who God created him to be.

I recently read this blog post which taught me so much.  I've always seen the beauty in my students.  They are wonderful and as much as I get frustrated they never disappoint me.  The most beautiful part of this post is where the mom says 'I promised to always be your student.' That is sooooOooo true!  As much as I want my students to do what I want when I want, they are each different.  Why should I expect one to do exactly what the others are doing? God has given then talents and skills and if I don't take a step back and learn from them, I'm not honoring God.

Last week I got a new student.  His mom told us that she never had him at a school where they had positive things to say about him.  I couldn't believe it!  Sure he punched us and kicked us, spit on us with ridiculous accuracy and frustrated us, but he had amazing moments where I wanted to cry because I was so proud.  I was so proud of the staff and how they worked with him, stayed late to update and change things daily to find other things that might work.

When we were trying to figure out how to get him to calm down, I realized I needed to take a step back and see what he had already developed as coping skills so we could build upon those skills.  Why should I reinvent the wheel on this one?  He is teaching us, and what we learn, we will help him turn into skills he can use on a daily basis.

So on Monday, I'm going to look at my students differently.  They aren't there for me to teach.  I am there to se what God has given them, and help them redefine those skills?  For what reason except to glorify the creator of this world and everything in it.