Beautiful Things...

This was my view driving to work the other day...

Beautiful isn't it? 

Then, when I was driving home, this was the view...

As I drove home, I started thinking (me thinking...crazy I know) how my day both started and ended with something so beautiful and unique. You see, the middle was not beautiful at all. It was filled with  irritation, heartbreak, pain, and frustration.  Being a specials teacher allows me to see many kids and hear many sad stories.  My thinking went to a variety of places but stuck on a song, Beautiful Things.  

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You see, God does make beautiful things.  REALLY beautiful things - just like the sunrise and sunset everyday.  The world is filled with pain, frustrations, imperfect people and everything else ugly!  Yet, God makes beautiful things out of dust or clouds and a massive ball of fire.  He also makes beautiful things out of us.  Think about all of our kids and all the baggage they bring to school with them.  Some of their lives are pretty disturbing and ugly.

What can we do as educators to help the students with ugly painful life experiences create beautiful master pieces out of their life?  This is a part of our calling as teachers and probably one of the most difficult tasks.  So many of the students (and people) that pass through our life struggle with the ugliness from their past or present experiences.  Because of their ugliness, we often catch the unbecoming attitudes and actions.  As we catch these attitudes and actions we find ourselves irritated or frustrated with those individuals. It becomes so difficult to love these individuals sometimes but these individuals need love just as much or more.  So let's help these friends make beautiful things! Let's love them! Let's inspire them! Let's encourage them! Let's listen to them! Let's make BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT OF THE DUST!  - Click the link listen to the song.

All around

Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Because of God, we have hope.  Because of loving teachers, students have hope.  Because of schools, there is hope for the future!  

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. - Guest words of wisdom from the best little brother!