I write because sometimes I can’t speak
Of everything going on inside of me
My voice may be silent
But the words are still there
Thoughts racing through my mind
Longing to be shared
 
I write because words have power
To change someone’s life
To comfort and encourage
To show love and to heal
To help others feel less alone
So hope becomes real
 
I write because the hardest stories
Are the ones that need to be told 
Pain and shame thrive in silence
But our voices are meant to be heard
Freedom and strength are found
When we take a risk and share our words
 
I write because sometimes I can’t speak
Of everything going on inside of me
But God gives me words
That bring peace and help me understand
How both brokenness and beauty
Are part of His plan

For the past 2 weeks I have been enjoying watching the Summer Olympics. I love watching anything in the water, such as swimming, diving, water polo, and rowing. I also love watching gymnastics, basketball, and track and field events.
 
The athletes make it look so easy. Sitting on my couch, I think, “I could do that,” and then I remember…

• I get tired swimming a few short laps.
• Diving boards look fun, but they scare me.
• After 5 minutes on the rowing machine at the gym I’m ready to get off.
• I can’t even do a cartwheel, let alone an entire floor routine.
• The Olympic basketball players would look like giants standing next to me.
• Usain Bolt’s warmup jog is faster than my sprint. 

 
The fact is that these athletes make it look easy because they have been training for years (and having athletic genes in your family helps too).
 
While watching the Olympics, it’s easy to forget that these athletes are the best of the best because of all the hard work they have put in preparing for their event(s). I may spend an hour at the gym, but they are spending 6-8 hours a day working out. And they've been doing this for years. Their job is to train, and they are extremely focused. You don’t become an Olympic athlete overnight.
 
Besides watching the events, I love watching the stories behind the athletes. I love hearing about their experiences growing up and seeing behind the scenes footage of their training.
 
These stories remind me that they are real people too. They don’t just have extraordinary athletic abilities, but they have experienced joys and struggles along the way. If they can overcome adversity and achieve greatness, maybe I can too.
 
Maybe that’s why so many people are drawn to the Olympics. We long to see hard work pay off. We desire to find moments to celebrate. Deep down, we want to believe that our dreams can become reality.
 
I will never be an Olympic athlete and that’s ok. Instead, I will proudly cheer them on from my couch. That is something I can easily do. 

As a kid, I remember feeling excited, but also a little anxious to start each school year. I was excited to go shopping for new clothes and school supplies, but I was anxious about meeting my new teacher(s) and classmates.  
 
Now that I’m a teacher, the start of a new school year brings these same emotions, but for different reasons. I still get excited shopping for school supplies – especially when the Target dollar bins are full of school stuff – but what I’m most excited about is meeting my new group of students. This is also the part that makes me feel anxious. Why?
 
Teaching is so much more than helping kids reach their academic goals. It’s also helping them learn how to treat others with love and respect. It’s helping them understand that they are loved and have something unique to offer the world. Teaching is a challenge and a huge responsibility, but it’s also an incredible privilege and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.  
 
Most teachers will tell you they feel anxious and overwhelmed at the beginning of the school year, and that is because we care so much. We understand the importance of our job and want to do everything we can to make sure our students have an enjoyable and successful year. This is why we are willing to spend days/weeks getting our classrooms ready and hours planning lessons each week. It’s also why we continue to think about our students even after the dismissal bell rings.  
 
Some people may be surprised to learn that I don’t have any control over who gets placed in my class, and I honestly prefer it that way. When I receive my class list, I get excited, as I believe that each student was placed in my class for a reason. God chose me to be their teacher. These are the kids that I get to invest in and love. Having that perspective has changed the way I approach each day, and it encourages me on those really challenging days.  
 
Since I’m a public school teacher, I can’t pray with my students at school, but I can still pray for them. Once I have a class list, I start praying for them by name. Driving to work each day I typically pray, “God, help me to be the teacher my students need today.” It’s a simple prayer, but it has proven to be effective. I also rely on help and insight from my incredible co-workers. They help me be a better teacher.
 
Another school year is about to begin. A new group of students will walk through the door and it will no longer be my classroom, but our classroom. I’m so thankful that I was chosen to share it with them.

​“What I love most about my classroom is who I share it with.” ~ Anonymous