Askin' for Patience

Lesson: when you pray for more patience, God gives you situations that test your patience so eventually you become more patient.

I realized the other day that with little kids I have tons of patience, but when it comes to kids in my onlevel classes that just don't care about school my patience is very fleeting. I've been praying for more patience.

The morning started off in first period (swimming) when our autistic kid came up and gave me a huge hug. Typically this kid annoys me to no end, maybe because he stalks me (not kidding) and maybe because it's first period and I'm tired, or maybe because he calls me and texts me "spam spam spam" over and over again. Well when first thing, 7:10 this morning he comes and gives me a hug, my first reaction is to get mad at him and tell him that is wrong. But today, I though half a microsecond and my reaction was different. Instead of getting mad I shrugged from his grip and just said goodmorning! And moved on. No frustration, no getting mad. Patience.

Then in art I sit at a table with 3 special Ed kids. Normally one of them is always pulled out, and one of them has an aide in there. So it's typically an aide, 2 boys, and me. And I usually love it. They say the funniest things and are normally so sweet. Well today all three were there and no aide. And one was in a funky mood which threw the others off and put them in weird moods. They were loud and became angry at the slightest things. I was ready to get out of there and go draw my skeleton at another table before I got frustrated, but decided to put my own skeleton down and help them with theirs. In the end it was really cool seeing how with a little help they turned their projects into something really cool. Patience.

At lunch I had to go deal with counselors who were already busy enough and inquire why none of my AP tests were showing up on te registration lists. There were hundreds of AP forms, it was crazy. I was ancy and hungry since I was missing my own lunch and didn't want to be waiting on them to figure out why they messed up. Patience.

Last class of the day. On level BCIS (how to use word programd etc. Totally dumb but easier than comp sci and needed to graduate). I sit next to a really obnoxious senior who has trouble working Word, let alone Microsoft Access. Typically I do my days work in ten minutes and escape to the pool before he can get too confused and need help. Today I answered his questions (which were already answered on his instruction sheet) and with a little help he figured it out. He was trying so when he would ask the same question that seemed so blatantly obvious I just took a deep breath and explained how to save the file and whatnot. Patience.

God doesn't give us patience when we ask for it, but He gives us opportunities to test our patience and ultimately become more patience.

I've been asked if I ever considered special ed teaching in addition to early education. Honestly, no. But maybe it is something to think about. As long as the kids are little. It would take a lot to make me teach middle school or high school.