Day 5, Part 2

This afternoon, one of my students went to gather the things from my office mailbox. Among the mail was our daily breakfast count sheet, a catalog for classroom stuff, and a little, unsigned  note with Snoopy on it that bore this verse: "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalms 118:24 NLT).

As you know, I wasn't having a good morning, and by the time this note got to me, I had received some bad news from my husband concerning payment for his schooling, and I had also lost my temper during class to the point that I threw my pen down. It hadn't fallen to the floor, though, like I had planned for it to in my mind. No, it bounced on two tables before finally falling on the ground. Did it bounce on the table of the student at whom I was yelling? Of course not. It bounced on the two tables in the classroom where my most respectful students sit. I was so upset that I stepped next door and told my friend that I needed a minute. I walked down the hall and I could feel hot tears burning my eyes. I tried to cut them off, but they spilled down my cheeks as I stepped into the lounge. I sat at a table in the dark wondering what in the world I was doing and how in the world a 10-year-old had just gotten the best of me. When I had composed myself, I went back. I don't know why but whether I cry three tears or a river, my face looks the same: red, puffy, ugly. I can't hide when I've been crying. Only one girl said anything, so I was glad. I walked them to art class and kept back the girls whose table had been hit by my flying pen. I apologized and they told me it was ok and hugged me. 

When I got back, I noticed the Snoopy note. At the time, I scoffed. "Sure. Rejoice. Easy for you to say, Snoopy." But as the day ended, I realized that there is ALWAYS a reason to rejoice. 

I talked to a friend tonight whose baby daughter, the same age as my own baby daughter, is battling cancer. Cancer. In a fragile, beautiful, 8-month-old body. But my friend has the greatest spirit about her, uplifting and wise. She still finds reasons to rejoice. If she can find reasons to rejoice, my goodness, I ought to be able to find some too. So I rejoice today that I have a steady, dependable job. I rejoice that I married my true partner in life and we are stronger together than apart. I rejoice for the beautiful children The Lord has given me, and for our house and our vehicles. I rejoice in stormy times because they make the sunshine even more beautiful. 

Today has been tough, but stretching isn't easy. I am just anxious to see what God does through us this year. 

-R

PS: Baby girl has been feeling better today. She crawled from the living room all the way down the hall where I was getting big brother dressed tonight. You should've seen his face! He was amazed that she crawled to come and find us. "We are in here, Sister! Come here, Sister!" :)