A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance


A little over a month ago, I started writing and decided to share my thoughts with anyone who was willing to read them. I was in a pretty tough spot, but I quickly realized that most people who read my 2018 Reflection  post were either right there with me or had been through it at some point. I ran into people all over town who would go out of their way to come hug me and offer encouragement or advice. I was overwhelmed by all the feedback and support from my incredible little community in Tupelo, MS and around the world.

That being said, I wanted to take a second to update everyone on the past month! 

On January 7th, I started my first job where my college degree actually applied: teaching Spanish.  On the first day of class, I had no idea what to expect. I had more than 50 teenagers that I was responsible for at some point during that day, and for the next nine weeks.  I am currently in the middle of week six (WOW), and I can say without a doubt that this has been the most challenging, but rewarding job I have ever had.  Having a classroom full of 9th and 10th grade students is like having a house full of new puppies.  They are so cute and silly, but they also frustrate you to no end.  I already love all of my kids like family, even on the hardest days. 

My favorite part of teaching has definitely been getting to know each student and being surprised by them every day. One of our assignments is to share your favorite Bible verse in Spanish and English and explain the significance of that verse as it applies to your own life.  One of my students shared Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,

"For everything there is a season, 
and a time for every matter under heaven: 
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace."

I have heard this passage countless times growing up in church, but coming out of this 15-year-old boy's mouth, it sounded like the most beautiful and poetic piece of literature ever written.  He read it with such grace and composure.  He surprised me that day.  And what surprised me even more was that this verse that my student was reciting was exactly what I needed to hear at this exact moment in my life.  

Being in your 20s is weird.

For the first time in your life, everyone your age is doing something different. From birth until you graduate high school, the pattern is the same for almost everyone. After you turn 20, some of your closest friends from high school might be married with kids, some are in college, some are working full-time jobs, some are overseas, and then some are just living at home with mom and dad trying to figure out the next move. That passage from Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a season for everything, and I believe that this season is special because some of the hardest things on that list are taking place, but some of the most beautiful are as well. Sometimes I weep, but then I laugh. Some days I mourn, and then I dance. This is being in your 20s. It is weird and awkward, but it is so beautiful.

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