One day last Fall I told my 5th grade class that they have to look at me and listen to me--even if I am old, wrinkled, and ugly. They protested!! "Huh?! Mr. Tigner! You're not ugly!! You're handsome!!"
I guess I came out ahead on that one!!
After nearly half a year of being in my class I am not certain they still agree with themselves on that. I've been a lot more demanding and grouchy lately. But I am so thankful for my honest and caring classroom full of 31 students who are so kind to me!!
I am soooo lucky to have these kids!! They brighten my every work day and I can never stop telling them so!!
I need to thank their parents also--more often than I have!
Such wonderful children--all of them!!
Being 63 is not so bad. After all, I have heard people say that at the moment we are born we begin to die. That is to say that the older we get, the closer to the end of our lives we come.
I just sometimes wish that I had the maturity of a 63 year old. Whenever I say I am now 63, I want to look for my drivers license and check the year I was born to make certain I am correct. I just can't believe I have been on the Earth as long as dirt!
Sixty-three years, stated more correctly, is a very long time for me. I simply do not believe I have lived that long! And yet there is no denying that I have.
Some of Claudia's family came over for a small birthday party this evening. They presented me with a very nice gift, for which I am very grateful. But the biggest present they brought me was their being with us this evening. I needed that!
My older sister has not called yet. That is amazing, in one way: Since I always call her on her birthday (March 15) and harass her about her age, she just can't resist telling me what an old man I am. In another way it is not amazing: She is full of anxiety about spending money on phone calls. I am trying to remember. But I think I usually call her and give her the opportunity to harass me. Maybe she has forgotten my birthday?!
Oh well. I guess I will be calling. But I just want to reiterate a strong belief of mine. That belief is that getting older does not affect our memories so much as the incredible increase of things we need to remember as we grow older and our extended families and our life experiences continue to increase in numbers. It is no wonder we forget so "easily". Our life's experiences have multiplied geometrically and our memories just "fall flat on their faces" trying to keep up!!!
One more thing about growing through life's experiences. I have heard the story about the person whose life was being remodeled by the Lord. I think the person had dream in which the Lord said some work would be done on their home--a nice comfortable, roomy home they had worked very hard and struggled very long to construct, and that for awhile things would get a little rough, but that ultimately everything would get better. Well, the next thing they knew walls were being knocked out and staircases torn down and a big mess made all over the house and it began to look like the house would never recover from all of this and not ever be inhabitable again. The person was very sad and distressed and began to lose hope. After all these years of faithfulness and obedience, how could the Lord do this to them. But they stayed faithful to the Lord, knowing that He had always been their for them. Eventually the person realized that the home was being slowly rebuilt and restructured into an edifice that was much larger and of much more magnificent grandeur--the likes of which the person had not ever known. Happiness and comfort had increased in manifold ways and the new home was beyond their highest dreams in splendor!!
At this point in my life, and with all the events that have transpired within the past few months with regard to my profession as a counselor, I have been very discouraged and confused. But I know the Lord is there and that somehow everything will turn out okay. Somehow, this reassignment to teach instead of counsel (what I had now considered my life's work) will find me in some type of better situation--if I will just let the Lord take the lead and follow his precepts. How can I lose by doing so? I cannot! He will bring me through all of this, as He has previously done in my life. And somehow, dare I say, my house will be re-designed and rebuilt and improved beyond my comprehension.
To all of you out there who may have missed my birthday--you didn't miss much. I haven't changed significantly from last year. I am still me.
Have a wonderful and prosperous 2011!!!
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I can't think of a single biblical reference to God saying "You're done. Just sit here." That's death. Literally. We're to do what we can do as long as we can do it, and when we can't, we need to find something else to do. Sounds to me like you're doing just that. What an example! Please remind me of that when I am 63, which is 8 short years away. I don't want to be some bitter old woman whining about what "I used to do." I want to do what God wants me to do for as long as I can do it. And that won't always be "the same thing." So remind me, Clyde - I'm counting on you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and Happy Belated Birthday, Clyde. I can only imagine how much you miss your counseling job. However, you are taking those counseling skills with you into your fifth-grade class. Those fifth-graders will benefit BIG TIME. Once a counselor, always a counselor, wherever you are. I'm glad to hear that you haven't changed. You are GREAT, just the way I remember you. Hope the New Year will be good to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteBecky, I finally was able to see the comments on my page and I reread yours. This is so true. We have a saying that goes like this, "Pray like everything depends on the Lord, then go to work like everything depends on you." If you do your best, the Lord will do the rest. I have faith that this is so!!
ReplyDeleteGloria, I taught just like a counselor. That is all I am and I am not ashamed of being who I am. I continue to do IBI and PSR with kids--I just love doing this!!!
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