I knew it was coming ... the day of realization that school was just around the corner. Usually at this time of year I am excited. I am writing names on deskplates and praying over each name I write. Photocopying worksheets and planning year plans. Sitting in meetings half day dreaming about what our year will look like and all the fun we will have this year. However, so far this year is a little different. We plan and we wait for enrolment each year and unlike years previous there have been less little ones to enrol. Currently we have no grade ones and only 2 in grade two and 1 in grade three! Though I seek to trust the Lord in his provision we also have been making decisions for what this means for our school year.For me, at the moment, it means team teaching with the grade 3 teacher and filling in where there is need in the school. Ultimately it means no grade ones, which (not trying to be overly dramatic) is like a piece of my heart is missing. There is so much fun explored and experienced in grade one and is quite heartbreaking to realise that this joy may not take place for me this year.
I have found myself asking God why the empty chairs? This big beautiful room with all these empty seats. There is a little girl this summer who has been earnestly praying for new friends to come this year. A teacher pleading for there to be kids to teach. It is more than me just wanting a job to do. It has me questioning why I am here? Having no doubt that God has called me here and has given us this large new building to fill.
SO why the empty chairs?
The empty chairs are teaching me to trust. To have faith. They cause me to rely not on myself or on the way I think things should be. I teach my students that God always answers our prayers but more often than not he answers them in a way we would never expect. I relate to Gideon seeing the need for more than I have and I am learning to listen to the plan God has for the few and what he is ready to do with what I have. He has a plan and a purpose and all he asks is that we trust and follow Him.
So I will continue preparing for the school year AND I will continue to pray and trust God's plan for the empty chairs!
