Teachable Moment

AS A TEACHER, I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR "TEACHABLE" MOMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. A MOMENT THAT WAS NOT PLANNED OR ORCHESTRATED, BUT ONE THAT PRESENTED ITSELF SPONTANEOUSLY AND PROVIDED THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE REAL UNDERSTANDING AND PROMOTE SELF-AWARENESS WITHIN THE LIVES OF MY STUDENTS. I LOVED THESE MOMENTS AS A TEACHER. I TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN (FIRST) REALIZING THE MOMENT AND (SECOND) SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP WHAT I HAD PLANNED FOR THE SAKE OF LEARNING IN THE MOMENT. CARPE DIEM! AS A SELF-ADMITTED OVER PLANNER, THESE MOMENTS WERE NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR ME AS I LIKED THE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT I FELT AS I MENTALLY CHECKED OFF THE LIST OF GOALS I HAD SET OUT FOR MY STUDENTS. HOWEVER, AS I MATURED AS A TEACHER I FOUND THESE TEACHABLE MOMENTS MORE GRATIFYING, CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL GROWTH.

NOW, WITH MY CLASSROOMS BEHIND ME I FACE SUCH TEACHABLE MOMENTS WITHIN MY HOME. AS A MOTHER, I AM LEARNING THROUGH MY CHILDREN EACH DAY. THEY ARE LIKE TWO LITTLE MIRRORS CAUSING ME TO REFLECT ON MY ACTIONS, MY INTENTIONS, MY MOTIVATION, AND MY ROLE. NOT ONLY AM I LEARNING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD, BUT MY SWEET ONES ARE CONTINUALLY INSPIRING AND CHALLENGING ME TO GROW IN MY WALK WITH THE LORD. I FIND IT AMAZING HOW HE USES HIS CREATION, BUT MORE INTIMATELY THE CREATION OF MY LITTLE ONES, TO PERSONALLY DRAW ME CLOSER TO HIM.

THIS MORNING I EXPERIENCED A TEACHABLE MOMENT THAT NOT ONLY CAUSED ME TO REFLECT ON MY ACTIONS AS A MOTHER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY CAPTURED MY THOUGHTS UNTO THE LORD AND WHAT HE WAS TEACHING ME IN THAT MOMENT. IN AN EFFORT TO COOK HEALTHIER AND CREATIVE MEALS FOR MY CHILDREN I HAVE STARTED TO KEEP IDEAS, RECIPES, TOOLS AND TIPS IN A 3-RINGED BINDER (HELLO ORGANIZATION!) THIS MORNING I LOOKED FORWARD TO MAKING RICOTTA-BLUEBERRY PANCAKES FOR THE CHILDREN WITH A SPRINKLE OF "SNOW" (AKA POWDERED SUGAR). WITH MY BINDER OPEN TO THE RECIPE, I EXCITEDLY BEGAN MIXING ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS AND EVEN DECIDED TO DOUBLE THE BATCH AS I WAS SURE THEY WOULD BE A YUMMY SUCCESS. WITH KIDS IN BOOSTERS AND BIBS ON, I CHEERFULLY PRESENTED THE GOLDEN PANCAKES TO THE CHILDREN. AS I TIDIED UP MY MESS, AND ATTENDED TO THE CAKES ON THE GRIDDLE I PAUSED TO PEEK AT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR SATISFIED FACES. WHAT I FOUND WAS CHARLOTTE'S PANCAKE SWIMMING IN A LAKE OF SYRUP (OBVIOUSLY DID NOT REMOVE SAID SYRUP FROM THE TABLE IN MY HAZE OF MOMMY BREAKFAST BLISS), HER FACE SCRUNCHED ANNOUNCING SHE WAS NOW TOO STICKY TO EAT AND WANTED EGGS AND JOEY WITH BLUE-TIPPED FINGERS TOSSING HIS PANCAKE EVERYWHERE BUT IN HIS MOUTH. TO SAY MY BUBBLE WAS BURST IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. QUICKLY I THOUGHT, "HOW COULD THIS BE?" "HOW ANNOYING!" AND FINALLY, "HOW IS ONLY 8AM AND I'M ALREADY ON MY HANDS AND KNEES CLEANING THE FLOOR?"

AFTER A QUICK CLEAN-UP AND A LITTLE SCOLDING A NEW BREAKFAST MEAL PLAN WAS DEVISED, ONE THAT INCLUDED EGGS. I TOOK A BREATH, SETTLED MY HEART AND INSTANTLY A VERSE POPPED INTO MY HEAD. PROVERBS 16:9 "IN HIS HEART A MAN PLANS HIS COURSE, BUT THE LORD DETERMINES HIS STEPS." MY "PERFECT" PLAN FOR THE MORNING PROVED TO BE IMPERFECT AS MY PERFECT LITTLE ANGELS CREATED THEIR OWN. I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A HABIT OF CREATING SECOND (AND THIRD) MEALS FOR MY CHILDREN BASED ON THEIR INITIAL REACTIONS, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FROM SUCH SITUATIONS. EVEN A MOTHER'S BEST INTENTIONS WILL SOMETIMES RESULT IN A FAILED PLAN AND I AM LEARNING THAT IS OK.

MY PRAYER IS THAT IT IS NOT MY OWN PLAN OR AGENDA THAT I SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH EACH DAY BUT THE LORD'S. I DESIRE A HEART THAT IS OPEN TO HIS LEADING, IS QUICK TO RESPOND TO HIS CALLING, AND READY TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS THAT WILL INEVITABLY FLOW AS A RESULT OF MY OBEDIENCE TO HIM.

"GRACIOUS AND HOLY FATHER, GIVE ME WISDOM TO PERCEIVE YOU; INTELLIGENCE TO FATHOM YOU; PATIENCE TO WAIT FOR YOU; EYES TO BEHOLD YOU; A HEART TO MEDITATE UPON YOU; AND A LIFE TO PROCLAIM YOU, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD."

- BENEDICT

P.S. THE PANCAKES WERE JUST OK. PERHAPS, THERE WAS REASON TO TOSS THEM OR DROWN THEM IN SYRUP.