When you live and work in the same community, you are bound to know someone, or know someone who knows someone, when a sad event happens. When you work in the school system, you tend to know even more people from having so many families' children attend the school over the years. I have been in this town now for 7 school years. Each year there is some sort of tragedy that affects a big portion of the school community.
This past year a young man at our other middle school died in a house fire, a dad of another student died suddenly of a heart attack, and several other things happened. Over the last 15 years I have had probably 5 or 6 students, or former students, pass away. I have had that many other students who have lost a parent, and numerous kids lose their beloved grandparents each year.
This summer has been no exception. I just returned from a calling for a mom of a girl I had for four years who just passed away. Two weeks ago her younger sister died in a car accident right here in our town at a main intersection. I had her as a student for two years at the high school.
Two days after Katy's car accident, the older brother of one of my middle school students this past year died in a tragic accident in a friends' driveway. He fell off the back of the car and hit his head.
I was comforted to know that both of these young people's organs were donated to save other peoples lives so they can spend more time on earth with their loved ones.
I write this entry to say that I am constantly tryng to figure out how I can be an encouragmeent to students and their families when they go through these tough trials. God has called me to this career in order to be His hands and feet, and His heart. Sometimes I am frustrated if I don't feel like I am doing or saying enough to help. I just have to be aware of the needs around me and offer assistance whenever I can and show God's love as much as possible. I believe that is true for every one of us in our sphere of influence, we all come into contact with people every day. Are we doing what we can to show God's love and be His Hands and His Feet and His Heart?
