Does This Job Make Me Look Fat?

Really, I'm convinced it does.

When I tell people about my job, and the different things I've done and grades I've subbed in and the responsibilities I've had, they usually respond with,

"That's good experience to have under you belt."

And I've grown a lot as a person and an educator since taking this job as a teacher's aide, and the experiences have been exceptional. I've just been storing them on paper and in my memory, not under my belt.

Do as I Say

Am I a hypocrite?

I expect the second graders to not fidget and listen with focus to lessons and read all the directions all the time.

I talk to them about their disrespectful, prideful acceptance of rewards, and remind them that it's an issue of the heart. I speak to the ones who seemed to receive their awards respectfully and humbly and suggested they spend some time talking with God and making sure they were not hiding pride in their hearts or thinking they received that award out of their own strength.

I talk about prayer, and how wonderful and important and potent it is and realize as I'm getting ready for bed that I hadn't kept God at the forefront of my day, and I hadn't asked him how I should serve or act, and I hadn't maintained a conversation with him.

I don't sit still when I listen.

I skip the directions.

I don't examine the pride in my own heart.

But, just like the second graders, I'm learning.


Let's not judge works in progress.