Teacheritis

You know the feeling you get...the one when you have only 5 weeks of school left before summer break...when the state assessment is almost over...when you can't tell who is more restless, you or the kids...when the spring weather is bringing warmer days and sunshine...when the rest of the working force begins to hate you because they don't have summers off? Yeah, that feeling....aw, man, it feels good. Sorry to the rest of the working world but as you know teachers have taken a vow of poverty and a vow of endless summer fun. Bring it on!

How do you tell a 14 year old...?

Wednesday evening, following services, my 14 year old son came to tell me that a friend and fellow youth group member was having a seizure out behind the church building. The ambulance was called and he was taken to the ER. Following this, Gena and I made our way to the back to join in the prayer time being held on his behalf. Trenton did not want to be back there, but I made him come and participate. He really wanted to go to the hospital to check on his friend. Gena and I decided that since it was already very late and we had a younger visitor with us, that going to the hospital was not the best thing for us to do at that point. On the way home we discussed with the two boys that Dillon was being cared for and that he had had seizures before. After a few minutes, Trenton was okay with it and asking if we could take him to the hospital the next day to visit with Dillon. I promised to call him after school and let him know how Dillon was doing. When he arrived at his mother's house and she told him that I wanted him to call me, he told her, "Yeah, my friend had a seizure last night at church and he is calling to tell me when we get to go visit him."

The struggle came when I had found out that Dillon had passed away from not a seizure, but a heart condition, and I now had to tell Trenton. I spent the day worrying over how he would take it, whether he would be mad at us for not allowing him to go to the hospital. I couldn't get out of my mind how devastated he would be, not only to lose a peer, but also to have the mental image of him laying on the ground dying. My heart hurt so much for the family, but mostly for Trenton who was going to be dealing with so much in the coming days.

Trenton did not take it too well, but in perfect boy fashion, put up a front saying that he is fine. Gena took him to the church last night to meet with more of the youth group so that they could remember the good times with Dillon. Tonight is the visitation and tomorrow the funeral. Trenton floored me when he asked his mother if he could switch weekends and be with us this weekend because he felt like he needed to be at church on Sunday for Dillon.

Trenton didn't want to talk last night, but this morning said that he had trouble sleeping. We sent him to school today, unmedicated (ADHD) because we are out, and with a math test. I had his mother call and talk to the counselor so she was aware and we told Trenton to go talk to her if he felt he needed to talk. He, of course, says that he is fine and doesn't need to go to the Counselor.

Dillon's life was a miracle, he had a heart condition and was not supposed to live very long. He outlasted that diagnosis and had surgery on his heart several years ago and survived. I have heard that his father commented that they were blessed to have been given 14 years with Dillon. Man, what strength! I find comfort in Duane's profession of faith, but how do you truly communicate that to a 14 year old? I may be hurting more for Trenton's sake than I need to but I never have lost a peer, much less watched it happen. I covet your prayers for the Borden's and our youth group at this time.

Tough Decision

I was recently presented with an opportunity to pursue a direction in my career that I have working toward for several years. The problem comes when considering the financial strains that it will cause with my family. I struggle to try and make it work, the way I want to make it work. The interesting thing is that I am feeling very stressed about it, almost unable to discuss it with God for fear of his answer. I KNOW what I want his answer to be and how I want him to work things out to make the decision easier, but I am afraid that he will not comply. The struggle continues as I try to allow God to take control of this, knowing that he knows the direction he is leading, and I learn to follow him faithfully.
Thoughts, scriptures, and prayers of encouragement will be appreciated.