IF YOU HAVE SPENT any time around children and teenagers, there are a couple of things that seem to be true: their first or one of their favorite words is no and one of the most common questions they get asked is what do you want to be when you grow up?
Ironically, no was not my first word, but it was the answer I always gave when people asked if I wanted to be a teacher like my mom, who dedicated many years to Catholic education. Mom, I love you and hopefully you and Dad are laughing at me sitting in the same seat in church you sat in every week at Saturday evening Mass.
That’s the fantastic part about life- God doesn’t give up when you say no, He perseveres and gives us opportunities to see our no as a chance to experience something that will bring us closer to God and the strength to say yes like so many of our predecessors in the Bible.
I was blessed to be sitting in a mini retreat this month by one of the Presentation Sisters, which is the order that founded St. Irenaeus. As I was reading through some of Nano Nagle’s many sayings and one stood out…. “We must think the Almighty permits everything for the best.”
My journey to becoming a teacher and returning to teaching has not always been easy, but reflection reminds me that God has always had a plan and I need to remember that it is not in my control.
After spending time working in corporate America and trying to figure out what I wanted to do, my heart kept calling me back to working with kids. I wanted to make a difference and be a model of character, compassion and values in the world. I wanted to give the gift that had been given to me by the teachers I had in Catholic school. I became the person I am today because of my experience as a Catholic and attending Catholic school. It isn’t just about the books or knowledge, it’s the community you belong to, it’s being able to talk about God, and it’s that feeling of coming home.
No one person can change the world, but by saying Yes to God, I decided to make a difference daily. I pray each day that my students and my own personal children and family will see that they are loved and safe. This love and safety come from the grace of God that we all have and can share with others.
Sometimes our journey can be tough, but the trials and tribulations are just another chance to say yes to God. I am grateful my yes to being a Catholic school teacher led me to St. Irenaeus, what a blessing God bestowed upon me. Every day, I get to teach my students to achieve greatness, they not only have to do better in school, but be better people by saying yes to God.