I Have a Job

I have had a job--a career, I like to think--for 32.5 years. I have had the same job for 32.5 years. I have taught at the same school since I graduated from college in December, 1975. I taught high school for one semester, and then was moved to middle school math, where I've stayed for the ensuing thirty-two years. I've taught around one hundred children each year, which works out to about 3250 children over the course of time. I've taught future teachers (two of whom teach with me now), doctors, lawyers, engineers, nurses, physical therapists, and the list goes on and on. I've also taught two convicted murderers (one of whom is on death row for capital murder)and numerous thieves and drug dealers/users. I've had to face the loss of students through death during the school year, as well as later in their lives. The first child that died was killed in a motorcycle accident (NOT his fault; he was doing everything right); another was accidentally shot by her older brother.

I am on my second generation of children, and that's always interesting and usually rewarding. If I know one or both parents, I at least UNDERSTAND the child's behavior, even if I don't like it! I used to tell DH that if a child ever walked in a said "you taught my grandmother", I would know that it was time to retire. I plan to teach three more years (not counting the current school year) because of an opportunity to participate in a special retirement reward offered by my state.

I am especially thankful for my job at this time of the year. I have read on several message boards about people who have lost their jobs and people who are afraid that they will be the next people in their company to be laid off. I remember times in my childhood when my father was unemployed, and it's a heavy burden for a child to bear. There was also a time in my marriage to DH when he was unemployed, and we were waiting for his diability retirement application to be considered, and that was a difficult time. We were blessed with family members who could and did help us, and God's hand was always on us; whenever the bank account was the lowest, an unexpected check or other gift would appear.

God bless and comfort the people who are in the midst of job uncertainty...especially in the midst of a holiday season. God bless and comfort their children, and help them to remember the happy memories, and not what they didn't get for Christmas. God bless the family of our student who was diagnosed with leukemia four weeks ago; her mother was shot by her step-father several years ago, and is confined to a wheelchair, so grandmother is the caregiver for both of them. God bless the students at our school who have collected close to $400 to help buy gasoline for the trips to the children's hospital and food for everyone who makes the trip. God bless the doctors and nurses who care for sick children, and thank you, Lord, that an outstanding children's care facility is only an hour's drive from our town.

"God bless us all, everyone."