Counselor’s Corner Issue 31

Dear Power-Sources,

Sunday, during my daughter's tenth birthday party, she eagerly unwrapped a gift from her second-grade sister. Tearing away that paper, she pulled out a plush puppy, ready to glow-in-the-dark when hooked into a power source. Ready for a test run, she searched for a USB power adapter. After scrounging in the "junk drawer," I found one and plugged it in.

Nothing.

I unplugged it and moved to a different socket.

Nothing.

"What was I doing wrong?" I wondered. "How am I going to power this thing up?" It was then that I assessed my connections. Powercord was brand new and working. Check. Wall socket was effective with other plug-ins. Check. Then I found the culprit: The USB power adapter, burned out from overuse and lack of maintenance, was now ineffective. Bad connection = No power. The good news was that it was a quick fix; Reconnect to what I knew was good and instantly my light was shining brightly.

This experience reminded me of you, educators, and how brightly you shine your lights for the students in your classrooms. You are their connection that they look forward to every day, the warmth of your personality radiating into them, your genuine interest causing their hearts to glow. The power of you is life-giving for your students.

And yet, improper maintenance and overwork-burnout can yield you ineffective, too. Without the vital educator wellness and spiritual care to feed your soul, you'll have the same result: Bad connection = No power. The good news is that it can be a quick fix once you assess it; Reconnect to what you know to be good (exercise, sleep, regular Holy Spirit time, etc.) and instantly your light will be shining once again.

Forever grateful for you lights!
Mindy