“Ravaged and Reunited”

Dear Teacher,  
 

Amidst the destruction and devastating sadness in my Western North Carolina region are bits of hope.  Pulled from the wreckage and aftermath of Helene come stories of survival, resiliency, humanity, and courage.  Here is just one:

In the swollen waters that flooded his once-pasture, a farmer stepped into the midst of rushing water.  As he peered across uprooted trees and wreckage, he spotted a sign of life!  There, floating downstream, was a baby lamb!  The current brought it directly to the farmer's outstretched arms and he carried the exhausted, bedraggled lamb to safety.  Drying it in a towel, he rushed the baby to the warmth of his car and took it home.  

With feeling gradually returning to his frozen limbs, the lamb began to perk up, bobbing his little head up and down.  Chuckling at his loud 'baaah's,' the farmer soothed with reassuring words.  "I'm the one who rescued you.  I know.  We're going to make it! We're almost there!"  Finally arriving at higher ground to where the rest of the flock had been displaced, the lambie was released to safety.  Hearing the bleating from his mother, the baby raced to find her, finally safe and reunited!

And you, Teacher, there in your classroom, are likely feeling exhausted and bedraggled this time of year.  You're navigating the wreckage of student's broken homelives and uprooted emotions. Students seem to be swimming upstream and struggling to keep their heads above water.  You've likely paddled for all your worth to save them and feel like you can't go any further.

Yet, your Rescuer leans into you with arms open wide.  He soothes you and offers reassuring words: "I'm the One who rescued you.  I know.  We're going to make it!  We're almost there!"  His promise of arrival to "Higher Ground" will bring you and your student relief because you're with "the God of peace---the Great Shepherd of the sheep [Hebrews 13:20].

Exhausted and bedraggled with you,

Mindy
Christian Educator & School Counselor