“. . .Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”  Micah 7:8

As I reflect back on this past year or so, I struggled to think of what I could possibly say. As an elementary school teacher in St. Paul and a mom of two young children, to say that this past year has completely changed many aspects of my life is an understatement. Being thrown into virtual teaching and having to figure out how to make online assignments, keep the students motivated and engaged, try and maintain our connectiveness and social connections and figure out every other aspect of my job virtually made me feel like I actually WAS building the airplane while flying it!!  

For many of us, it is so easy to focus on all of the things that might be perceived as negative in our lives. Here is what my list sounds like on any particular day:

I miss teaching in person! This is not the kind of teaching that excites me and the hole that seeing my students every day has left in my heart is ENORMOUS.

I’m overwhelmed with the amount of time I spend at home (especially with two young children running around. . . so much energy and the number of toys everywhere is insane)!

Social interaction with people outside of my family…what’s that? I can’t remember the last time I was out with friends. 

But the more time I spend at home, many of these things that I initially perceived as negatives have turned into positives.

I have been able to spend so much more time with my daughters. I get to eat breakfast with them, help with naptime, sneak outside for a quick playtime in between school meetings. . . 

I’ve been able to have the additional time at home to focus on my mental health and self-care.

It truly has been a blessing to be able to just SLOW DOWN and appreciate this time at home. It’s so crazy to think about the things that you think will be so terrible and you won’t be able to handle, they end up being some of the same things that are true blessings.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for being our light in the darkness this past year. Continue to help us find ways to try and find the light in our own lives every day. Amen.