Oh, That I Were An Angel

I have been so busy with everything that I haven't worked much the last three months.  Being out of the habit, the thought made me a little sick thinking of going back.  Let's face it, substitute teaching is not stress free, but I'm getting in the groove again and happy to be working.  Plus, I volunteer a bit in my grandson's classroom.  If I'm at his school, I run over to his class and help out during my lunch break.  It's interesting to me how it's so much more stress free when I'm the grandma helping out compared to being the official teacher replacement.

Anyway, I've been feeling especially grateful for my good life.  I am so enriched because of the gospel.  I'm reminded of one of the reasons I felt impressed to pursue substitute teaching - to be an influence. I, sadly enough, am surrounded by children who are aching for a better life.  A day doesn't go by that I want to scoop up a child and say, "Could you just come home and live with me!"

My plea reminds me of Alma saying, "Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart." (Alma 29:1)  I just want to make things better for everyone and yet realistically that's not possible.  That's not the way life works.  Alma couldn't declare unto every soul, with a voice of thunder, to repent and come unto Christ.  Instead he was allotted to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance.

So while I'm amongst these many children, hopefully some child will remember feeling loved.  Hopefully some child will remember feeling peace. Hopefully some child will remember encouragement and hope.  And someday, maybe, that child will find it.  I pray so, daily.

“I am only one, but still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

but still I can do something;

and because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

~ Helen Keller