Weeping May Last The Night, But JOY Comes In The Morning...

I really haven't gone that far in life. ...and I like it that way.
I haven't gone far in life by choice. I know many of the same people I knew as a child. I taught school at the very school I once attended, and currently-my kids attend the very same school today.
In my first year of teaching, I was hired (at my childhood school) as a middle school history teacher. I loved the subject matter, but if I am honest-I was terrible at that grade level.
The second grade teacher (who was across the hall from me) was so kind and understanding of my lacking skills. She spent time mentoring me. I appreciated her approach to classroom management, and I vowed to be more like her. She was firm, yet loving. She was organized, and her room always was a welcoming place. There were several times I was in tears over a student situation, or sometimes a parent interaction that did not go as planned. She always had a minute to encourage me, or pray with me. Not only was she a church friend of my parents -(She watched me draw pictures during the sermon when I was six!) but I was even teaching her two middle school sons (!). Surprisingly-she treated me as an equal, and in my eyes-I hadn't earned it yet.
When I eventually became one of the first grade teachers, and she was still teaching second grade-she saw me flourish and mature as I was in a place that was (finally!) comfortable for me as a teacher.
Then her husband contracted a terrible form of cancer and she took a few years off to be with him. It was a miracle her husband survived. But he did, and you could see such a close bond between the two of them. They had made it through to a place after sickness and near death-and you could see how grateful to God they were.
She eventually came back to the school as an assistant teacher. First in the special education department where her amazing organizational skills were much needed, but also with the students in small group instruction. Then she became an assistant to the teachers in the first and second grades.

By this time-I was in "Mom mode" as a parent now at the school, rather than as a teacher. My oldest son was in first grade and met with her for math instruction. We would pass each other in the halls of the school as life had changed so much for us both-and smile. She pulled me aside several times to tell me how much she enjoyed my oldest son, and she found "me" in him many ways...

My second son would attend the day care a few afternoons a month after preschool and this special teacher made her way in there when they were short staffed. So not only was she with my older son, but with my second son as well. When I would pick up my kids, many times they commented on what a nice lady she was and how she was "The Best!". Dancing Boy summed it up once by saying, "You know why I like her? She is nice, mama-just like my Nana. She listens to me and gives me hugs if I cry and she prays over me." It triggered the memories of teaching with her, and how she listened to my frustrations quite a few years back when I was a new teacher. I remember I said to my son-"I know-she has always been like that for me too."

Last June, I found out my teaching friend had breast cancer.

Going into the school year this past September-we knew she was fighting a serious battle, and the outlook didn't look good. I tried to shelter my boys from this knowledge, but my older son heard guests at our house talking about it...He looked at me-and I've mentioned his "looks" before. So we had the "cancer" talk. I explained that we didn't know the outcome-but we would be praying for this special lady. (...and he prayed for her faithfully, as did my second son...)

When my boys went outside last night to play soccer with Tin Man, I got the e-mail that my family friend, my mentor, my kid's teacher had passed away. I was glad to know she was pain-free, and I know she is in Heaven-but at the same time, so sad for her family. A few minutes later, as Nature Boy ran in for some water, he found me in tears and asked why. I debated with myself. Do I tell him? How much do I say? So I just told him I was sad for this lady's family because she had died today. He was sad for a moment with me, and then said in a very mature voice, "Mom, I want to go to the funeral with you and dad-she was a very nice lady to me."
After discussing this with Tin Man, we have decided to honor his wish in honoring our friend's life.

This will be the first funeral he has attended. I am not sure how to prepare him for this-and I am wondering if any of you have been through this with your kids.

What do you say? What do you do to prepare kids for this part of life?

My parents (her lifelong friends) were over for dinner last night as we got the news. My dad said, "You know she was welcomed with open arms in Heaven..." and that is so true-she touched so many lives-mine on several levels, and in many ways...

That is one reason why I am happy I haven't gone that far in life.

"Weeping may remain for a night,

but joy comes in the morning."

~Psalm 30:5