Staying Calm

Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." ~ Mark 1:37-38

Day 2 of school. It's been really great. I'm learning to not overreact and "yell" at the kids. Learning to stay calm and to give praise for the good behaviour as opposed to threatening or harping on their bad behaviour. It's really been good ...when I do that. Hopefully I'll learn to tone down and react less emotionally to things. Today, A-boy was excited about going back to the carpet, and when he rushed along with the other people in his group, they bumped my desk, and the water spilled on the desk. He was so concerned and worry, but I was surprisingly very calm and actually quite soothing....If I must say so myself. It was actually very gratifying for me that I could instead comfort him and NOT be upset.

It's funny how Jesus can be so calm too. Here the disciples are so worked up about the fact that everyone is looking for Him, and yet Jesus is able to just divert the attention from their anxiety and focus on "Why he has come." I think likewise I need to really focus on my role and why I'm placed in the different situations that I am (i.e. teacher, wife, mentor). In focusing, hopefully I won't get worked up about the anxieties of the world either.