Good morning, class!
"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down..." yeah, that used to be my Monday morning song. Of course, who wants to get up as early as 7 AM on a Monday morning if you somehow get used to waking up at 10AM over the weekend? My alarm clocks (yes, that's plural!) just didn't seem to be doing their work. Well, the truth is, I just turn them off the moment I hear them. But sometimes, I appreciate the "snooze" function just to allow me a few more minutes of sleep. Then all of a sudden, with my eyes half-opened, I would see the clock with it's hands saying "8 o'clock"..oh no!!! Literally, I have to drag myself out of bed, fix myself (which usually takes an hour because I'm still feeling sleepy) and walk as fast as I can to catch the last trip of the shuttle from Cavite going to Makati. The sad part is, I really don't make it to the office at 10:30AM most of the time. =(
But I guess, God always has a way of teaching me how to do the right thing. And it's kinda ironic because what He did was to give me an additional chore every monday morning. Which means, I have to wake up not only as early as 7AM, but even 6! November of last year, my aunt's best friend asked me if I could volunteer to teach Bible class in a public school nearby. She said there were really few teachers and so many classes to handle. I somehow felt her burden and besides, I really enjoy teaching and being with kids. But it was a task that was hard for me to accept at first, knowing how my Monday-mornings usually are. But then, I felt that God was speaking to my heart and asking me to accept the task. That very hour, I said yes to my aunt's best friend. That was already a Sunday. Which means, early morning the next day, I'd already start teaching. (waaahhh!)
My alarm clocks (still plural :D) rang at exactly 5:50 am. I told myself I still have 10 minutes to sleep. But I felt it was just like a second that passed by when the other one rang again. Then I realized I must really wake up because I have to be at the public school by 7:30 AM. I forced myself to jump out of bed and take a bath even with the water really cold! brrrr... And it's as if some sort of a miracle happened, I was out of the house by 7 AM! hurray!
Right after flag ceremony, I entered the classroom of Grade 6 - Section 1 students, the class assigned to me. I felt nervous that time, even if I'm used to teaching kids in Sunday school, because it was really the first time I'd be teaching in a "real" school. The students were kinda noisy when I entered the room. I just stepped in front of the class and the kids started to take notice of me and somehow shut their mouths. I smiled at them and inspite of my nervousness, I introduced myself and explained that I would be their new Bible class teacher. I see some of them nodding, as if in agreement. Then just to remove the nervousness away, with my most audible voice, I excitedly greeted them with a "Good morning, class!" I was surprised at their response, they answered back "Good morning, Teacher Dorothy! Mabuhay!" At that moment, it's as if all my nervousness and hesitation melted away.
After that, my Monday mornings were never the same again. I didn't have to use more than one alarm clock (hehehe...) and sometimes I even wake up earlier before my alarm clock rings. Yes, I still sometimes find it hard to wake up early on a Monday morning. But everytime I remember the kids who are waiting for me, longing to learn and understand things about God, I feel so much strength and excitement within me. It was the only "alarm clock" I really needed. And guess what? I was never late on Monday mornings again!
In one of our classes, my student closed the class in prayer and towards the end she said, "...At saka Lord, salamat po sa pagbibigay Nyo sa amin kay Teacher Dorothy. Salamat po dahil dumadaan po muna sya dito sa amin para turuan kami bago sya pumasok sa opisina. Marami po kaming natututunan dahil sa kanya..."
Words could not express how I felt when I heard that prayer that I almost cried. Yes, I may have to sacrifice some hours of sleep. But that is nothing compared to the joy that fills my heart everytime I see these kids learning and recognizing the importance of God in their lives. I realized also that my students were not the only ones learning. They have taught me a lot of great, important things as well. Not to mention, that of being on time. Indeed, they have touched my life in a very special way.
Now, everytime I wake up on a Monday morning and look at myself in the mirror, I can truly say to myself, "Thank God, it's Monday!!!"
Me and My Bible Class Students
But I guess, God always has a way of teaching me how to do the right thing. And it's kinda ironic because what He did was to give me an additional chore every monday morning. Which means, I have to wake up not only as early as 7AM, but even 6! November of last year, my aunt's best friend asked me if I could volunteer to teach Bible class in a public school nearby. She said there were really few teachers and so many classes to handle. I somehow felt her burden and besides, I really enjoy teaching and being with kids. But it was a task that was hard for me to accept at first, knowing how my Monday-mornings usually are. But then, I felt that God was speaking to my heart and asking me to accept the task. That very hour, I said yes to my aunt's best friend. That was already a Sunday. Which means, early morning the next day, I'd already start teaching. (waaahhh!)
My alarm clocks (still plural :D) rang at exactly 5:50 am. I told myself I still have 10 minutes to sleep. But I felt it was just like a second that passed by when the other one rang again. Then I realized I must really wake up because I have to be at the public school by 7:30 AM. I forced myself to jump out of bed and take a bath even with the water really cold! brrrr... And it's as if some sort of a miracle happened, I was out of the house by 7 AM! hurray!
Right after flag ceremony, I entered the classroom of Grade 6 - Section 1 students, the class assigned to me. I felt nervous that time, even if I'm used to teaching kids in Sunday school, because it was really the first time I'd be teaching in a "real" school. The students were kinda noisy when I entered the room. I just stepped in front of the class and the kids started to take notice of me and somehow shut their mouths. I smiled at them and inspite of my nervousness, I introduced myself and explained that I would be their new Bible class teacher. I see some of them nodding, as if in agreement. Then just to remove the nervousness away, with my most audible voice, I excitedly greeted them with a "Good morning, class!" I was surprised at their response, they answered back "Good morning, Teacher Dorothy! Mabuhay!" At that moment, it's as if all my nervousness and hesitation melted away.
After that, my Monday mornings were never the same again. I didn't have to use more than one alarm clock (hehehe...) and sometimes I even wake up earlier before my alarm clock rings. Yes, I still sometimes find it hard to wake up early on a Monday morning. But everytime I remember the kids who are waiting for me, longing to learn and understand things about God, I feel so much strength and excitement within me. It was the only "alarm clock" I really needed. And guess what? I was never late on Monday mornings again!
In one of our classes, my student closed the class in prayer and towards the end she said, "...At saka Lord, salamat po sa pagbibigay Nyo sa amin kay Teacher Dorothy. Salamat po dahil dumadaan po muna sya dito sa amin para turuan kami bago sya pumasok sa opisina. Marami po kaming natututunan dahil sa kanya..."
Words could not express how I felt when I heard that prayer that I almost cried. Yes, I may have to sacrifice some hours of sleep. But that is nothing compared to the joy that fills my heart everytime I see these kids learning and recognizing the importance of God in their lives. I realized also that my students were not the only ones learning. They have taught me a lot of great, important things as well. Not to mention, that of being on time. Indeed, they have touched my life in a very special way.
Now, everytime I wake up on a Monday morning and look at myself in the mirror, I can truly say to myself, "Thank God, it's Monday!!!"
Me and My Bible Class Students
posted by Doths at
2:47 PM
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