There are few jobs in the world quite so tricky as writing the daily schedule for the teachers of the Children’s Center – 17 classrooms with three teachers for each room, morning and afternoon, and making sure that the all-day teacher has a lunch break. Teachers must have opportunities to take vacations, have sick days, and we also need to have continuity in the classrooms for the children and the parents.
Each evening, we finalize the preparations for the next day – checking to see who is off the following day, whether we need to have another teacher come in early or stay late to cover the shift, and how we need to schedule lunch breaks so that everyone gets the time they need. It is easy to get wrapped up in the logistics of it all and forget the real reason that we do the schedule – to care for the children in our building.
The season of Advent can be like my daily schedule with family, friends, events, etc. We must plan and prepare food, family outfits, nap times, baby sitters, and presents. However, let us not forget we must also prepare for the real reason for the season – the birth of our Lord and Savior.
Take the time this season to mindfully open your heart for Christ. Preparing for the arrival of Christ in the world and in our lives is necessary. Just as we give attention our schedules and events, we must also give time and effort to prepare ourselves to receive the newborn King of Kings. Just like we spend time each evening, preparing for the next day, I want to encourage us to spend time each day preparing for Christ’s arrival.
Mandi Moon, Director of St. Luke’s Children Center
