Strength.

As I sit here on a Friday night, relaxing from a long (short) week, I find myself with some deep thoughts...(which is very unusual, as I normally gorge myself in mindless, reality T.V. and books typically written for teens...The Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, etc.).

This past week I had (yet another) new student enter my class. While I can't tell you much, I can tell you this student received a new home as well as a new school all within one weeks time.  Immediately my heart was aching for them.  However, they came into my classroom with one of the most positive outlooks on life a 4th grader could have. This student is so full of energy and so eager to learn. I asked my student today how the first week was at a new school and a new home. My student replied with a simple shrug of the shoulders and a smile and said, "Well Miss Kerian, it's good!". If only I could have their strength some days. I admire everything about my student right now.

As my dad and I were exchanging emails today and discussing this, he said to me, "All problems in life look pretty small and silly when you just look around." I'm the first to admit I rant and vent (mostly to my very kind, very patient roomies!) about some of the most silly things in life. I get myself all worked up over the "small things". As I see my student and imagine what this person has gone through and seen in the past week of their life, I realize it is more than I will probably ever have to endure.

With that said, the next time I find myself upset I will follow my fathers "wise words" and think of the strength my 4th grader has...