Know your limits…

The first week back to school has brought much excitement and some stress too.  I have to explain a situation I’ve experienced this week and then share what I’ve learned from it.

My colleague had a baby last week and of course is out on maternity leave.  We had an amazing substitute lined up to fill in for her however at the last minute she got hired on by the district.  We followed appropriate procedures to find another sub.  She showed up the first day of school and participated in a few days of professional development with us.  I had taken quite a bit of time to sit and explain everything with her as thoroughly as I could.  However, she lacked the experience of teaching before; she only had subbing experience and not much of that was in special education.   As I worked with her, I began to worry more and more that she was not ready for a position of this size.

This is where I learn from this young woman.  Through a chain of events she admitted that she did not feel able to fulfill the expectations of the position.  She resigned from her position much to my relief.  She knew her own limits.  She knew what she could do and she was wise enough to recognize when something was too much for her.

This made me wonder… do I know my limits as well?  Am I as wise to say “yes” when I can and “no” when I know I can’t?  I think all too often we don’t want to let someone down, be embarrassed, or be seen as a failure.  However, how much more admirable it is to realize prior to failure that something is too much or too big for us to handle.

I know there are some circumstances that we are able to recognize our limits and live within them.  I’m encouraged to do that more within my own life through this experience and through God’s word…

Psalm 131:1

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.

I’m encouraged today to find peace for my soul in my Savior Jesus and my loving Father God!!!  I hope in God alone forevermore!!!