Intentionality

There is always something. Right?!

Something to accomplish.

Something to attend to.

A need.A request.

A problem to solve.

A question to answer.

An issue to address.

A person who needs you.

There is always something!

And if you are an educator, you know this feeling well. The day begins at full speed the moment you walk through the doors of your school. Before you have even put your bag down, there is already something waiting for you.

And then the emails begin. The questions. The interruptions. The lesson that needs adjusting. The student who needs a little extra attention. The meeting. The unexpected problem. The thing you forgot. The thing someone else needs from you. And somehow, the list keeps growing. There is always something more you could do.

Which is why I think we need to talk about intentionality. Because if we are not intentional about caring for ourselves… our minds, our bodies, our souls, and our spirits… no one else is going to do it for us.

Your to-do list is yours to manage. Yes, there are many things on it that are absolute must-dos. But can I suggest something?

You are a must-do, too.

Caring for yourself is not an extra. It is not something you squeeze in if there happens to be time left at the end of the day. Because let's be honest… There probably won't be. If you need a change, want a change, or feel like something is missing from your day, you may need to intentionally step outside of what has become comfortable or expected. You may need to make space for what your heart needs.

Schedule it. Put it on the list. Make it a must-do. And perhaps most importantly, make time for Jesus. Time to pray. Time to surrender. Time to ask for His help. His guidance. His strength. His peace.

Because Jesus already knows what you need. He knows what needs to be added. He knows what needs to be subtracted. He knows what you are carrying that was never meant to be carried alone.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”~ Matthew 6:11

Daily. Not someday when everything is finished. Not when the inbox is empty. Not when the classroom is perfectly organized. Not when everyone else has what they need. Today. Come to Him today. Ask Him for what you need today. And then trust Him with today.

Try making prayer intentional.

Set an alarm on your phone: Maybe at lunch. Maybe during recess. Maybe during your planning time. Maybe right before the students arrive or right after they leave. When that alarm goes off, stop for just a moment. Take a breath and pray.

You can pray a GSGS prayer: Gratitude. Strength. Guidance. Surrender:

G — Gratitude“Jesus, thank You for…”

S — Strength“Jesus, give me strength for…”

G — Guidance“Jesus, show me what to do about…”

S — Surrender“Jesus, I give You…”

It doesn't have to be long. It just has to be intentional.

Put little reminders of Jesus throughout your classroom: Place a little Jesus or a reminder of Him into a drawer. Place one inside a cupboard you open every day. Put one near your teaching materials. Keep one on your desk. Hide one somewhere you will unexpectedly see it. Not because the object itself holds power. But because the reminder does. Jesus is here. I don't have to carry this alone. I can let go. I can ask for help. I can surrender this moment to Him. 

Because intentionality has a way of becoming a habit. And habit has a way of becoming rhythm. And before long, turning toward Jesus can become a natural movement of your day. A breath. A pause. A prayer. A surrender. A reminder that you are not doing this alone.

So today, I wonder…

What does your heart need? What does your mind need? What needs to be added to your day? What needs to be taken away? Where have you been waiting for “extra time” instead of intentionally making time?

Maybe the invitation today is not to do more. Maybe it is to make room. Make room for your heart. Make room for your mind. Make room for rest. Make room for what restores you.

And most of all… Make room for Him.

Because He is not asking you to figure out how to make it through an endless list of needs with an already-full cup. He invites you to come. To receive. To trust. To ask. To surrender. He is your daily bread. And He will give you what you need for today. Not everything you will ever need. Not tomorrow's strength. Not next week's grace. Today's.

So when you walk through those school doors tomorrow and the list begins before you have even set your bag down, pause. Breathe. Remember. And whisper: “Jesus, give me what I need for today.” Then take the next step. With Him.

Have the BEST week!

Maria