The Hardest Job Ever

The hardest job that I ever had was working with a room full of little boys between the ages of 6 through 8. At the time, I was a behavior specialist working on my masters. I had never worked primarily with little boys and I felt in over my head.

The great thing about this experience was that I had an awesome co-worker who taught me everything that I needed to know and more. I had to get past learning how to do hair with teenage girls and get more comfortable with dodge ball, become way more artistically creative, learn the simplest knowledge possible about etch a sketch, and learn when to let them be boys who like to play war games. This was a hard task for me at first because I am a nurturer at heart, and I wanted to protect them.

I work at a mental health facility, so in addition to learning how to adjust to the character of what little boys like, I had to learn how to calm them down when they were highly upset. Many of the kids that I work with have issues with emotional regulation and impulse control. In that season, I had to learn the balance between love and grace.

Believe it or not, this was not the hardest part of my job. The hardest part of the job was that after a few short months the co-worker who taught me so much got a new position. If I knew nothing else, I knew that prayer was going to be the most essential tool that I could use going forward each day. I prayed with my co-worker before she left on many mornings and I carried those prayers into my home because we all needed it.

When my co-worker transitioned into her new role, I needed to figure out what God was trying to do with me and those kids in that season, and it was hard. The blessing is that I have so many testimonies concerning what I learned during that time in my life. It was honestly the best and hardest task that I ever had to take on.

For the first time during the many years that I had already been at my place of employment, the children became a part of my heart. I prayed for those babies earnestly. I gained the love of Jesus for them and that heart still remains.

No matter how hard my day was or how challenging the children’s behavior was, they were a part of my heart and that made the job bearable. I am now in a new position in the same workplace, but the children that I am allowed to work with are a part of my heart and I love them through Jesus no matter what they do.

Many years ago, I prayed to be anointed to work with kids. I don’t believe I knew why or how that anointing would come, but I am grateful for the process. We learn and we grow. The survival of that growth process leads us to being thankful for all that we have endured along the way.

No matter what process you are in, know that God is faithful. In this place, He is stretching you for your next assignment. In the words of my spiritual father, David Aaron Richey, “enjoy where you are on the way to where you are going !”

Lord, I thank you for loving me enough to prepare me for the place that you are sending me to. The process hurts, but I trust you. Lord, help me to have your character, your perspective, and your response. Help me to forgive quickly, repent quickly, and to love as you love. Bless me to be a carrier of your presence. I pray that people see you instead of me. In Jesus name, amen.

Recommended Reading:

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 KJV).

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JaNina B.

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