Comfort

August 29, 2013

“Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV

Just because you haven’t seen something doesn’t mean it’s not there.- Epic

I was struggling with this post and the nester saved me with her dream post.

I wanted to post something insightful (ha) Monday for the first day of school and maybe the reason I couldn’t was because I didn’t really get to see all of my kids until Tuesday.

When I proposed this idea of comparing comfort and progress in my classroom to the yellow house to Russ, he told me I was stretching it. But, I am convinced watching our house progress this summer directly correlates to the progress we as teachers, parents, welders, jewelers, doctors, all see!

It’s frustrating….knowing we have a dream but we just can’t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel.

God’s faithfulness still prevails.

It’s frustrating….when we want it immediately and God makes us wait.

God’s faithfulness still prevails.

It’s frustrating….when road blocks are placed directly in our paths and we can’t quite figure out how to get past them.

God’s faithfulness still prevails.

But as we read, Oh the Places You’ll Go! and as we discussed being productive citizens, it was clear we will indeed struggle to get up the mountains. But we will struggle together as we get stronger, better, and smarter.

Watching my kids sit on the couch in my classroom just today gave me butterflies because I really have this dream. This crazy dream of a simplified lifestyle. This crazy dream of creating true comfort all around me.

I don’t mean comfort as in security of finances, etc. I mean comfort in the surroundings. Comfort in the peace of God that transcends ALL understanding.

My dream of the yellow house was to be full of people, to entertain, to host guests, and for a place for my children to grow and want to return to.

My dream for my classroom is the same….to create a place of comfort—full of people, to host students, and a place for them to want to come to.

As we start a new year, it’s tough and frustrating to spend so much time on expectations and seemingly meaningless activities but these small things shape our students and impact their lives. We are teaching them to be productive citizens. We are teaching them to be independent. A close friend mentioned how as a society we worry so much about making kids happy instead of making them independent. Wow. That really hit home. We need to teach them both effectively. How to be happy in the smallest blessings because they are independent.

These moments and weeks of expectations are not meaningless for they hold so much meaning I question why I haven’t spent more time on these previously.

As we work and work on the yellow house, it is so overwhelming, much like the start of a school year. It seems there are so many little things to do that there is no end in sight.

Just because we can’t see the progress among the dust, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Just because we can’t see their grades, doesn’t mean the ability is not there.

Just because we can’t see what the year holds, doesn’t mean the willingness isn’t there.

Just because we can’t see what the future holds for us, doesn’t mean hope is not there.

Just like our house, the progress is slow but the end result is so worth it.