Keep Shining Your Light

October is such a beautiful time of year. The leaves are changing, the colors are warm and welcoming, and there is excitement in the air as we look forward to fall events. The school year is well underway, routines are becoming familiar, relationships are growing, and we are getting to know our students and one another in deeper ways. But October can also be the time when we really start to feel the school year. The excitement of the beginning has worn off, and the reality of everything that comes with a school year has set in. There are lessons to plan, papers to grade, meetings to attend, emails to answer, schedules to manage, conversations to have, problems to solve, and students and families who need our time and attention. Some days feel productive and rewarding. Other days feel like we spent the entire day putting out fires. Sometimes, in the middle of all of it, we can begin to wonder: Am I really making a difference? The answer is yes.

Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

I love this verse for educators and administrators because so much of what we do may seem ordinary to us, but it can be incredibly meaningful to someone else. When you encourage a student who is struggling, you are shining your light. When you notice that someone is having a difficult day and take the time to check in, you are shining your light. When you give a student another opportunity, listen to a parent, support a coworker, or patiently work through a difficult situation, you are shining your light. When you make a decision that is best for students, even when it isn't the easiest decision, you are shining your light. Sometimes, you are shining your light simply by showing up and faithfully doing the work God has called you to do.

We know that education is about so much more than academics. Every day, we have an opportunity to help shape young people, support families, encourage one another, and create environments where people can learn, grow, and feel valued. That is meaningful work. That is ministry. There will be days when we are frustrated. There will be decisions we wish we had handled differently. There will be conversations that are difficult and situations that don't go the way we hoped. But that is where God's grace comes in. We don't have to be perfect to make a difference. We simply need to be willing to let God work through us. Sometimes we get so focused on what we didn't accomplish that we forget to recognize what we did. Maybe the lesson didn't go as planned, but you connected with a student. Maybe a difficult conversation didn't go the way you hoped, but you handled it with grace. Maybe you went home exhausted, but you gave your very best. God sees those things. He sees the work that no one else sees. He sees the extra time, the difficult conversations, the prayers we quietly pray, and the moments when we choose patience instead of frustration. He sees the times we keep going even when we are tired. He reminds us that our work has purpose. 

So as we move through October, I want to encourage you to keep shining your light. Keep encouraging. Keep showing grace. Keep believing in your students. Keep supporting your coworkers. Keep praying for your school. Keep doing the little things that may seem insignificant. You may not always see the results. But God does.

Let's not focus only on everything that still needs to be done. Let's take a moment to recognize the good that is happening around us. Celebrate the small victories. Celebrate the moments of laughter. Celebrate the relationships that are growing. Celebrate the student who finally understood something they had been struggling with. Celebrate the teacher who went above and beyond. Celebrate the administrator who made a difficult decision with wisdom and compassion. Most importantly, celebrate the fact that God has placed you exactly where you are for a reason.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the opportunity to serve and for the students, families, coworkers, and communities You have placed in our lives. When we are tired, give us strength. When we are overwhelmed, give us peace. When we are frustrated, give us patience. When we are discouraged, remind us that You see us and that our work matters. Help us to reflect Your love in the way we teach, lead, communicate, and care for others. Help us to notice the people who need encouragement and to remember that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference. Bless our schools, our students, our families, and everyone who serves in them. Give us wisdom, patience, unity, and joy. Most of all, help us to let our light shine so that others may see Your love through us. Thank You for reminding us that we don't have to do this work alone. Help us to trust You with the things we cannot control and to faithfully do the work You have placed before us.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Erin Stupy, Christ Lutheran School, Brea, CA