Things I've learned since I committed to listening

Yesterday I went straight to my church job right after school.  It was raining, and I had a bit of a deadline as I wanted to get home so that I could dinner and then to the grocery.  As I pulled into the parking lot, I was annoyed to see that every space was full.  This meant parking out on the street with the meters, and since we are adjacent to campus...who knew where???  Not only did I not feel I had time for that, who wants to walk in the rain?

But I thought about some of the things that I've learned from students since I really committed to being here, physically and mentally.  I've learned about the young lady who no longer lives with her parents, and is working quite a bit in order to try to pay her own bills.  I listened as she was hurting last week because a teacher made fun of her job.  I've learned about the young lady who is living with her grandparents because her stepdad keeps kicking her out, and this weekend he kicked her mom out as well because the girls are visiting their biological dad.  I've learned about the young lady who was late to school yesterday because her boyfriend fell asleep and didn't pick her up.  She couldn't even call the boyfriend because her stepdad hadn't paid the phone bill and so there was no phone to use.  Her boyfriend fell asleep because he is so tired from working two jobs.  Even though his college is paid for through scholarships, he hasn't been to class in a month because of the jobs.  His mother is disabled, and she had a pretty serious hospitalization last year.  He is trying to pay those bills, and just doesn't seem to be able to get ahead.

Although it isn't because I listen, I've also learned about the fourth grade student who, on the last day of school before spring break, climbed under his desk and refused to come out.  He didn't want to go home.  How awful must his home life be that here he was, staring at a week at home, and he didn't want to leave school and be there?  I also learned yesterday about some students I know who lost their older brother because he was beaten to death in a drug deal.  As I read the obituary, I noticed his father is also deceased.  Andrew mentioned it was an overdose.  I know these siblings and they aren't bad kids...but I find myself wondering what kind of a chance do they have?

Suddenly, walking in the rain seemed nothing.  I shared this with my kids at dinner.  Catherine and Thomas both seemed empathetic, but Robert was clearly trying to figure out how quickly he could get away from the table.  I know it can be hard to remember how blessed we are, and even at my age I don't always feel that way.  I hope though, that my kids can learn how much caring and kindness can matter.