Words given:
GRIND – “hard, boring work or duties that you have to do every day”
GRIN – “to draw back the lips so as to show the teeth, especially in amusement or laughter“
GRIT –  “firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger“

This June has been one that was not on my bingo card. I have a student in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Meanwhile, I am also teaching summer school. The students in summer school are students I teach or have contact with during the school year. They don’t know about their classmate being in the hospital.

I have to grin and act like everything is normal. At the same time, I have had mixed emotions. Some days I go to the hospital, and everything is going great. My student has responded to me when I have asked a question. Other times, he is heavily sedated and doesn’t even know I showed up.

The daily grind of teaching summer school, the hospital, appointments, and trying to have a summer full of memories can really wear on a person. Either you are going to crash out because it’s a lot of mental strain and overload, or you are going to persevere. You need a lot of grit to remain positive. I think having faith in God has helped with that grit.

An example of my faith during this time: A week ago, I went to church and heard the song “There’s No Way,” during the worship portion of the service. The lyric “My healing is coming. It’s a matter of time,” was changed to his name. The Friday beforehand had been extremely tough. He was heavily sedated when I was there. When I was there last Thursday, he was in and out of consciousness. He answered a question. Then Saturday, he was taken off the sedation and the vent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsKbSxt2Orw

Have a blessed day,
Traci