“When I quit running from God, my life got easier.”

How many of you have heard of the story Jonah from the bible? Some would say it’s a fable. As a Christian believer, I find it to be a story of learning to be obedient to the voice of God. Sometimes, we go through things that we caused on our our own. We realize that we didn’t have to go through this, and we seek God for His help to get out of trouble. With God being God, He comes to our rescue.

For those that might not know the story of Jonah, I’ll give you a short synopsis. You can read the book of Jonah for his full story. The story of Jonah is about a man that was chosen by God to preach. Because the people of the city were wicked, Jonah is afraid to preach to the people in the city. Instead of obeying God, he runs and gets on a ship. Due to his disobedience, he ends up in the belly of a whale. After time passes, he begs God to give him another chance to preach to the people. God honors his request.

I, too, was like Jonah. Now, God hasn’t told me to preach, but I ran away from my calling. I ran away for years, twenty-five years to be exact. What is my calling? It is to teach children in the school system. I am thankful that I am obedient and walking in what God wants me to do.

For years, things were not comfortable on my previous job. I wasn’t happy about being there. There were false things that were said about me, and I was reprimanded for these things. There were many nights that I cried to family, friends, and sought God for help. To be honest, I never should have stayed as long as I had. I stayed because I had seniority. I stayed because I made a nice salary. I stayed because I’d built up to four weeks of vacation time. I stayed because of fear of leaving. I was even afraid of leaving and going to another bank in my city. Just as Jonah, things got bad enough where I asked God to please help me. Please deliver me. God did just that. God pulled an Abraham on me. 😂 He took me to a foreign land away from everything and everyone I’ve known.

The education system is a part of my lineage. I have aunts, a sister, a daughter, and several cousins that are in the education system. For years, my aunts begged me to teach. They told me that I would do great in education. Teaching was the furthest thing from my mind. Just as Jonah, I ran from it. I thought there was no way that I could teach. As I look back and reflect on my life, I have been dealing with children and teaching in some capacity all my life. My first job was as a babysitter. After that, I worked at different after school programs. Before any of the children played or did activities, we did schoolwork, and I assisted with it. When I was in high school, I tutored my friends in different classes. In my years of banking, we went to different schools or apartment complexes to teach about finances. Most of the time, my coworkers didn’t want to talk. They allowed me to do all the talking. It didn’t bother me one bit. Last June, God spoke to me and told me to teach as a career.For all the reasons listed above, I didn’t even blink when He said it. God saved me from the pit and gave me another chance.

July 30, 2022, my father loaded my belongings in a U-Haul, and he brought me to my final destination of Kissimmee, Florida. A few days later, I was officially a teacher. I won’t lie. I was nervous. I was scared. All I’d known for the majority of my adult career was banking. I had to learn something new all over. I was worried would I learn it.

There were some days we sat in planning, and I was hoping and praying deep inside that my name wouldn’t be called. Most of the terminology was Greek to me. I compare my experience to understanding a new language and knowing absolutely nothing about it. Honestly, some of those day, I was sitting in those meetings almost at the verge of tears because of my lack of knowledge. I am one that takes pride in knowing information. For me to have to start back over and know nothing, it was very hard for me. I held it together during planning. On those nights, I cried at home with family, friends, and God.

One day in prayer, God spoke to me and said for me to allow myself grace. I was being too hard on myself by setting up the hard expectations of trying to know it quickly. I had to realize that I didn’t learn banking in one day. My years of knowledge was developed of years of being in banking. As time passes, it will be the same way with teaching. I just have to allow myself time. When I stopped and took deep breaths, things got easier for me. Day by day, things started clicking. The day will come that I will know more and be comfortable with my knowledge in teaching.

Before any of my students stepped in my class, I asked God for a few things. Lord, please let my class be a room of love. Not all children will receive it at home. Not all children will receive it in other classrooms. I told God that I would be firm when needed because children need structure, but I would always be fair and show them love. With that approach, I knew some would hate me (for the firmness). Others would like me, and others would love me.

Teaching is very different from banking. When I walked out the doors of the bank, I didn’t taking anything home with me. Whatever wasn’t done at closing, it would be waiting on me the next day. A lot of more work is involved. Honestly, teaching is almost a 24 hour job. You’re always planning. Your’e always grading. You’re always thinking of ways to improve lessons. You’re always in touch with parents. You’re always wondering if your student ate that day. You’re always wondering why a particular student has missed so many days. You’re wondering how you can get through to the student that you know is smart, but he/she doesn’t want to let the friends know. Your’e wondering how the student is holding up knowing the student has lost a parent or sibling. A lot of these things are difficult for adults.Imagine a child going through these things each day, but society tells them they have no voice. That’s why I was adamant that my students know that Ms Long’s room, room 308, will be a place of safety, a place of love, and a room that their thoughts would be challenged.

Before I knew what a benchmark was, I knew how my students would start each day. I love motivational quotes. I wanted to incorporate it in my teaching. For the bell work (all year long), I posted a quote on the board. It depended on what my mood was on what kinda quote they received that morning. To name a few, the topics on the quotes would range from self worth, love, positivity, pride on about who you are, pride on your culture, cheating on assignments, and mental health. The students wrote their thoughts on what the quote meant to them. By the end of the year, I had students that found quotes and wanted to share it with me. I put their quotes on the board and put the name of the student that contributed. They never knew when I would use it. They would be excited seeing their name on the board with their quote.

At the end of each day, the teachers have to display the bus schedule for the students in 7th period. By the end of the year, I had students that I taught earlier in the day and some that I didn’t even teach to catch the bus in my room. Word got around about Ms Long. The children knew that my heart was pure. Room 308 was a safe and loving place for all. My prayers were answered.

Each day, I went to work with peace. I had supervisors that supported me. I had coaches that helped me when I needed help on understanding what the state of Florida wanted me to teach. I was excited about teaching children. I was excited about them gaining a desire to read. I was excited about seeing the ones that used to clown in class start to take class more seriously. I was happy when parents thanked me for taking the time and caring about their children. I didn’t do it for their thanks. I did it because I want the best for all of my students and desire for them to be productive adults later in life.

I was a blessing to the students, but they were a blessing to me. My first year is over. I have a sense of accomplishment. This first year of teaching has been a blessing for me. I, finally, accepted my calling my calling from God, and my life got easier.