Humility and Joy

       I've noticed that every day this week one of my students, Armando, keeps making a point to stand next to me during morning and afternoon prayer. He always has this huge smile on his face.  Well, yesterday he decided to keep asking me to read the first part of the prayer aloud.  "Miss Cheryl, even just the first word!" When I inquired why another student, Michelle, yells "He loves how you say 'Señor!' Please Miss Cheryl, for Armando." I immediately became really self conscious and though to myself "Do I say it wrong? No, I know how to say Señor!" So I gave in and uttered the word señor in my best spanish.  Armando grinned from ear to ear.  I smiled and we all laughed at just how silly Armando was being. I just let it go, he's a native spanish speaker and I am not - I'm sure my accent is funny.

      Later in the day I was reflecting on this crazy interaction.  I have been taking spanish lessons at night and I am starting to really feel confident in my pronunciation of the words I use often.  I want to be fluent, even though I know I am long, LONG, way away.  But hopefully, one day, I can get there.

     Well, I went in to teach the last class of the day and Armando says "Miss Cheryl, can we have a free write today for our journal - I have a topic I want to write about."  I agreed and let them all spend the first 10 minutes of class journaling about whatever they wanted.  He sprinted up to my desk as soon as he finished and said "Miss, you have to read this!"  This is what he showed me: 

     I laughed so loud that it peaked the attention of all of the other students in the class.  Armando's face turned bright red and we laughed and laughed.  All of the others begged to read it.  He refused to let them read it and asked me not to read it out loud. So I agreed with one stipulation, that I could take a picture of it. With this little journal entry and an afternoon of good-humored fun, I gained a lot of humility.  I am not great at spanish, I am definitely no where close to being fluent, but I am trying.  My students know that I am working on improving my spanish just as they are working to improve their english.  It was a humbling moment that brought so much joy! 

      Immediately after the students went home I went to the teachers room and shared with my coworkers.  I told the story in my best spanglish.  It was great! A few of the bilingual teachers helped me translate a few words here or there, but I did it! Everyone got a kick out of it because they know that I'm trying.  It was at that moment, when all of my coworkers and I were laughing that a little bit of humility brought so much joy.  I thought of how different the situation would have been if I would have become offended.  I would have been frustrated, angry, and unsure of how to handle it.  I would have walked in the teachers room embarrassed and unwilling to speak.  But God gave me a little bit of humility, and it brought such great joy!