As I sit down to pen this blog, it is my prayer that your heart is full of beautiful Christmas memories. Christmas may have looked different for you this year (i.e., less family, food, and fellowship), but we know Christmas is about so much more. When all is stripped away, Jesus remains . This is why we celebrate! Christmas isn’t a once-a-year event. Christmas should live in our hearts year-round. As we approach a new year, I have put together a Christmas acronym to encourage

Christmas is almost here. Are you ready? When I drafted my initial blog, Preparing for Christmas , I had no idea it would turn into a three-part series! We first addressed repentance (i.e., getting our hearts right with the Lord and removing the sin barrier). Next, we tackled our beliefs (i.e., reminding ourselves to hold firm to what we believe about Christmas while keeping doubt at bay). What should be next in our preparation for Christmas? How about… Repent – Believe – Pro

Do our beliefs matter? Consider the following illustrations. · A student believes he is poor at math. He thinks he is incapable of handling new content and often refuses to try. Contrast this with a student who believes in her math abilities. Are the thoughts and actions of these two students different because of their beliefs? · A student believes no one likes her. She internalizes the perceived rejection and withdraws from others. Contrast this with a student who believes s

As I visit with educators around the country, one common theme seems to be emerging. Everyone is “hanging on” until Christmas. Preparing for Christmas seems to be the last thing on everyone’s mind as plans for the holiday take a back seat to the ongoing demands of teaching in a pandemic. No educator likes to be unprepared. We all know the value of good planning. Thorough preparation in our work life instills confidence, saves time, yields better results, and often empowers us

It has been interesting to listen to leaders (e.g., government officials, board members) speak about the current state of education. Most appear to be using their platform to justify decisions that are impacting thousands of teachers and students. For example, a board member was recently quoted as saying, “The education students are receiving online is as good as what they were receiving in person.” Seriously? Ask any educator and they will tell you this is not the case. Tod

Thanksgiving—the time of year when all of us take stock of our blessings. Each year I become increasingly more thankful for family, health, and God’s provision. While I continue to be grateful for these things, this year feels different. Like many of you, I have been alone with my thoughts a bit more lately. Many of the distractions we typically experience due to busyness have been removed, allowing us time to be more introspective. My quiet time with the Lord has been sweete

Not too long ago we had a sleepover with our granddaughter, Harper. She is just five years old, so right now she thinks her Mema and Bapa are really special! I am cherishing every moment because I know the days of her running and jumping in my arms are numbered. On this particular weekend the weather was beautiful, and we love to be outside. Harper is learning to ride her bike, so we headed to the park to practice on the concrete walking path. Like most five-year-olds, she i

Que Será, Será. Whatever will be, will be. The future’s not ours to see. Que Será, Será. This old song recorded back in the 50’s popped into my head this week as the commentators droned on and on about the elections. I don’t mean to be flippant about our current circumstances, but between the pandemic, racial unrest, and political turmoil, I am about ready to wave the white flag. Everything feels a bit like a roller coaster that never ends. I can take the flips, dips, and tur

If you are an educator, I suspect you talk to yourself. Many people talk to themselves to some degree. As for me, I am an out-loud processor. How about you? Do you ever talk to yourself out loud? If so, you will be relieved to know that this is not only normal but also healthy! If not, maybe you should start! I did a Google search on the definition of self-talk. Here is what I discovered. Self-talk is your internal dialogue. It's influenced by your subconscious mind, and it

I wish I was better-looking. I wish I was funnier. I wish I was easygoing. I wish I was athletic. I wish I was creative. I wish I had more money. I wish, I wish, I wish… We live in a society today where everyone seems to be unsatisfied with how they look, what they have, and what they are doing. Our social media feeds and entertainment channels are laden with the flaunting of physical bodies, possessions, and enticing advertisements that assure us if we just had X, we would

This past week as I was doing one of my workouts (a new routine in my life thanks to COVID-19), the online trainer said, “ Come on! Be stubborn in the struggle!” I know I was supposed to be paying attention to what I was doing, but my mind automatically was drawn to the current situation we are all facing right now. When times are as challenging as they are today, we can become overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted. We want to cry out, “Uncle!” But when she said the word “

We can’t fix it. Teachers are fixers. If a scholar makes a mistake, we offer correction. If there is conflict between students, we help them reach a resolution. If an accident occurs on the playground, we nurse the wound. If a child is missing supplies, we provide the resources. We are fixers. This is one reason why many educators find our current situation so very difficult to navigate. We can’t fix it. I was visiting with a principal this past week. She told me she was very

As I was driving toward the airport in Tampa this week gazing at the ominous rain clouds, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I had managed to escape being caught in the daily rains without my umbrella. I know better than to leave my umbrella behind when traveling to Florida, but for some reason I forgot to take it this time. I debated on whether to buy another one, but I hated to add to my already large collection of umbrellas purchased as a result of my past forgetfulness. I decid

Two words can never be spoken enough, especially to educators: Thank you . Those two simple words can be a beacon of light on an otherwise dreary day. Just to know someone appreciates the work we are doing can spur us on to persist through the struggle and negativity that has become part of our reality. I recognize a blog may not be the ideal way to express the thanks you deserve; nevertheless, I want to personally thank you and remind you that your actions do not go unnotice

Years ago I coached high school girls’ tennis. There was a phrase I often used to encourage my players when they were on the verge of throwing in the towel. “Dig deep!” Many of us know this saying. It is a charge to exert ourselves, to find that inner strength that enables us to give that extra push. I’m sensing that many educators are in need of encouragement these days. Many are being asked to step outside their comfort zones on a daily basis and navigate uncharted territor

Waiting can be excruciating. Just ask Abraham. God made him a BIG promise, but it took 25 years to come to fruition. Now that is waiting! We’ve all experienced seasons of waiting, especially of recent. It has been six months since the pandemic started, and the wait for normalcy trudges on. Teachers everywhere long for the day they can see their students face-to-face and hug them without the fear of getting the virus. We all want to allow our students to collaborate with each

This week's blog is written by my dear friend, Pam Hankins. Pam is a retired life-long educator who has a passion for the Lord and desire to serve fellow Christian educators. She has been such an encouragement to me and I have no doubt her words will be a blessing to you! One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Esther. Though God is not explicitly mentioned in this story, His fingerprints and sovereignty are ever present. Here, an unlikely orphaned Jewish maiden na

This past week I had the pleasure of dialoguing with a Christian educator about the upcoming school year. I listened as she painstakingly described her situation. Like many she is starting the year teaching online which has resulted in a total overhaul of her normal teaching routine. She meticulously outlined the plan to bring half of the students back at a time while the other half remained online, the process for students who needed additional support, and the gradual trans

You must pay for everything in this world, one way or another. There is nothin' free except the grace of God. Mattie Ross, True Grit , 1969. Living a full and abundant life is hard work. It takes grit. John Wayne had grit…in the movies anyway! I must admit I haven’t watched the famous western, True Grit , but I have read the Cliff Notes. Needless to say, there was a lot of fightin’ and dyin’ along the way, but eventually the bad guys were conquered, and the good guys won. T

Ever feel like you are fighting a giant? Giants in our lives take on many forms and can leave us running for cover. As I ponder our current situation, it is clear that there are a variety of giants people are facing—fear of starting school, meeting the academic and social needs of our students, racial unrest, contracting the virus, and financial hardships. Giants can be intimidating, often taunting us and threatening our way of life. No one knew this better than David. When f