Life has pain, God has plans...

Today, I attended the memorial service for Karen Witter, the Brookhollow Elementary fourth-grade teacher who died two weeks ago. It was an emotional gathering, as many of her friends and colleagues shared their memories of this special woman. Unique dresser. Passionate leader. Discerning counselor. Faithful friend. But as I sat and listened to the stories, my mind kept wandering back to the 19 children she left behind: her students. A good number of them were in attendance, and I am sure their lives have been forever changed by this unexpected turn of events.

Here enters Cindy Tyson. Mrs. Tyson is the teacher who will take over Mrs Witter's class, and help these students complete their school year. As I stood and talked with her from behind the buffet table of finger foods, the conversation centered around the task that lay before her. For the next 5 months, she will not only be a "substitute" teacher, but also a counselor, mentor, mediator, healer and friend. Hers is not an insignificant role.

What really spoke to me was this: she said she feels, more than ever before, that teaching is her "calling." Formerly a 5th-grade teacher with a class of her own, Mrs. Tyson had most recently been working a part-time support position at Brookhollow. Now, she is the one who is stepping to lead Mrs. Witter's class through some of the darkest days of their young lives.

Like Esther in the Bible, she was "called for such a time as this." And she is ready. But one last thing, get this: Mrs. Tyson also lost her 4th-grade teacher in the middle of the year when she was a child. She hadn't even thought about that in years, but in a recent conversation with her new class, she suddenly realized that she could truthfully say, "I've been where you are." Isn't that powerful?! Who better to care for those students that someone who has felt their pain?

Listen to this:

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

Do you see? A teacher "prepared in advance" to minister to 19 hurting students. Only God could do that! And just imagine what things in your future He is preparing you for today! Be encouraged today for you are "God's workmanship," and He has big plans for your life...