Rise Up

As a teacher, I am blessed to teach seniors in high school. Due to the schedule of the school and course I teach, students switch out of my class after Christmas break and I receive a new group in January. It is one of the great joys of my job because I am gifted with each senior before he/she graduates. It is such an honor.

Today is testimony day. I share my story of faith with them- the good and the bad. It is an attempt for them to know where I am coming from as we approach really big topics, like prayer, discernment, bioethics, and marriage. At the end, they are handed a blank piece of paper to write their own story with a focus on circumstances, choices and community. I firmly believe we are a product of the circumstances in life that we cannot control, the choices we make, especially in the difficult times, and the community we surround ourselves with.

If we have a good, solid, holy community, then we can choose to see even the difficult circumstances as a gift. I am so thankful today for the community of people who prayed me through the tough moments and loved me in the darkness. I love sharing my story with my students because it is a testament to the unwavering love and goodness of God, even in the ashes.

I am spending a little extra time today in gratitude. It's only when we take a step back that we see the masterpiece and not the individual brush strokes.