Small acts can have huge impacts. I was reminded of this every day during this past week. During our annual school district's convocation, I was deeply moved by the stories of love, encouragement and support. Whether it was from a 17 year old buddying up and listening to a WWII veteran in the Soaring Valor program or hearing from a fellow parent/teacher on how much a simple hug meant during a tragic time in their lives, the small acts we choose to make truly do impact others in profound ways. The week before school starts can be an extremely stressful time for teachers. We become so consumed with trying to make everything look just right and worry if we will have it all together. The first thing we must realize is it doesn't have to be perfect. The second thing we need to come to terms with is the fact that we won't have it all together, and that's just fine! As they say, our work is never done. So how do you cope with the stresses of back to school? You lend a helping hand! That's right! You put others' needs above your own. When you have a servant heart your actions come from a place of humility. You operate from a place of love. You help others because you have the sincere desire to see them succeed and not because you want to make yourself look good. What does that look like from a teacher perspective? It's really very simple. I noticed it several times this past week from across my campus. The servant heart came in the form of helping each other hang borders on hallway displays, sharing ideas for meet the teacher night, pitching in to help another teach move her classroom at the last minute, helping a fellow teacher brainstorm and implement a new idea, and lending a hand to help rearrange and move classroom furniture. Some tasks took some time while others were over in seconds. The key ingredient in all of these things centered on the word HELP. That is what a servant heart strives to do. It helps others. As we go into our first week of school and throughout the year, I encourage you to begin seeking a servant heart. From a personal standpoint, the greatest hinderance to this is our own pride. I think it's natural for us to want recognition, validation, and keep or "protect" what we have. This includes ideas we have, resources we have, and the biggest one of all... the time we have (or don't have). However, when we let go of pride and begin to help others, God has a way of making everything work out. All of a sudden our to-do lists get shorter, our instruction becomes stronger, and our joy increases! Here are some simple ways to foster a servant heart. 1. Pay attention to the needs of others around us. Look for those opportunities to help. 2. Do things whole heartedly. Put your best effort into whatever you are doing. 3. Stop complaining. Quit the negative talk. Speak love!
1 Comment
Heidi
9/15/2017 07:21:01 am
Your servant heart in teaching shows in everything you do! Thank you!!!
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AuthorHi! I'm Karen - a passionate educator dedicated to learning, growing, and sharing! Thanks for stopping by! Archives
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