One Student, One Day

These last two weeks have been C-R-A-Z-Y. One day this week was taken up almost entirely by one student! How does that happen you say? Well, since I need to be vague, let me try to put it this way: I was in a training meeting and at about 9:30 the principal comes to get me saying a student has been brought down by the teacher due to student saying something inappropriate to another student and looking up an inappropriate website. I talk to student (20 minutes), call dad (10 minutes), send child back to class. I get called to the cafeteria 30 minutes later. Said student has been doing something potentially harmful in cafeteria. I walk student down to clinic and spend time discussing the issue with the nurse (30 min.) Call parents again. Parents come to speak with me and student (another 30 min.) I go get student's homework for the day out of locker and classrooms (20 min.) I get advice and talk to various people a little later to make a plan to help said student (45 min.) What am I up to now on one student? (About 2 hours?) Seems a bit longer due to going back and forth between my tasks and helping said student.
I remind myself this is why I do what I do. I want to help students AND their parents. I remind myself that I don't want to put myself out of business, so bring on the "busyness"!!!

Running it Off!

By Friday of each week I am usually mentally and emotionally spent. Not to mention verbally spent. I should count sometime how many minutes a week I spend talking to kids, teachers, parents, colleagues and myself! It's no wonder I prefer not to talk to people on the phone in the evenings and on weekends!
Anyway, I got sidetracked. What I meant to start saying is that sometimes I have a hard time unwinding, so I get up on Saturday mornings and just run until my knees hurt. (I'm lucky to get 20 minutes in, really, but I run/walk until I reach 20 minutes). It's amazing how much better I feel after I run off the stress of the week, and then I sleep very good on Saturday night!
I like to listen to my inspirational songs on my MP3 player when I run, mostly Contemporary Christian music. This week the song came on that I had recorded called "This one's with me."

This One's With Me Lyrics by Newsong
(click on song title to hear song-automatically plays)

1. I was dreaming about Heaven
I was standing at the Pearly Gates
We all there
And I was so scared in the presence of One so great
I felt so worried and unworthy
I felt like running away
I bowed my head and I turn to go
Then I heard someone say

(chorus) Father, this one's with me
Part of the family
One of the reasons I died
On Calvary
Father, welcome him in
I paid the price for him
Father, oh Father, this ones with me

Sometimes I just want to tell God, "This one's with me,"
when kids come in and they are upset or hurt about whatever
is going on. I know I can't pay the price, but I hope that I
can be someone who points kids towards God, and that they
will feel loved by Him through me.
 
So, here is the rest of the song in case you are wondering:

2. I was dreaming about Heaven
When I looked up the gates were opened wide
And in the distance, I saw Jesus
Our eyes met, and I began to cry
Angels robed in their beauty
Were there to show me the way
And all of Heaven singing
When I heard His voice say

Father, this one's with me
Part of the family
One of the reasons I died
On Calvary
Father, welcome him in
I paid the price for him
Father, oh Father, this one's with me

3. Finally, we were there face to face
And He placed on me Heaven's crown
I fell down on my knees
Laid my crown at His feet
Then He said, to me

Father, this one's with me
Part of the family
One of the reasons I died
On Calvary
Father, welcome him in
I paid the price for him
Father, oh Father, this one's with me