I Am

Then God said to Jeremiah: Go to the potter’s house; there I will give you my message. I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making the clay into another object that pleased him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do to you as the potter has done? Just as clay in the hands of the potter, so you are in My hand.  -Jeremiah 18:1-6

In just a few short weeks, I will be thirty. THIRTY. God bless my poor little aging soul. As I have gotten closer, I have done a lot of reflection on my life. While most people tend to start resolute with a fresh beginning in January, I tend to make those sweeping declarations about my life in August. For the last 26 years, I have centered my life around an academic calendar rather than a traditional calendar. Friend, start your year in January. My year starts in August. Teachers, holler if you hear me…

And so, it is with this in mind that I have done some thinking about my life. Last year, I can only say was a growing year for me. I experienced overwhelming heartbreaks and triumphant accomplishments all at the same time. I can look back on times when I absolutely got it right, and times when simply put, I failed miserably. But one of the triumphant accomplishments was being named Teacher of the Year.

Last year in February, I was recognized as Teacher of the Year for my school. I could not have been more humbled by the honor. I truly love what I do, and I feel like I pour my heart and soul into my job. To be given that distinction, and to know that it was chosen by the students themselves, was an incredible moment for me.

As news spread that I had been selected, I got many of the general congratulations one might expect after having received such an award. But I also noticed something else. Several people gave credit not only to my own dedication as a teacher, but to my mother’s job in raising me.

So here I am, late twenties, being recognized in my own career and the congratulations lean also toward my mom. Never have I experienced such a moving and profound correlation…

People were absolutely right to give my mom credit. No matter how old I get, no matter what I accomplish in life, it is largely due to my mother’s efforts. She has worked tirelessly to raise us in a way pleasing to both my dad and my Heavenly Father. And I could not be more grateful.

As I look on my life, I see that at nearly 30, I am a lot of things. I have acquired many roles, many qualifications, many attributes that make me who I am. And as I consider all of these things, I know that one thing stands out above the rest. The most important thing I AM is the daughter of a King.

So here back at the crossroads of a new beginning, everything is fresh, because I am the daughter of a patient and willing potter who shapes and molds me daily. And sometimes I don’t get it right; sometimes I don’t cooperate like I should. But what a peace there is to know that wherever life takes me, I can rest in the unconditional love and eternal journey of the potter’s wheel… Because even when I get it terribly wrong, like clay in His hands, He tries again…