One of the many things I appreciate about Christin Ditchfield as an author is her transparency and grace. Her book What Women Should Know about Letting it Go offers each of us that delicate balance between the spiritual and the practical. Letting go is an active pursuit; not a passive expectation. Christin shares the many ways in which we can let it go.
As a teacher I often come to the end of the school year not sure I did all I could do for my students. There always seemed to be someone I couldn't quite reach, someone who fought my best efforts to the bitter end, and someone who fell down that proverbial crack that I worked so hard to narrow. There is a guilt for not knowing exactly how to meet Emily's needs as a gifted learner on the Autism spectrum. There is shame over praying that my most troublesome student would be absent, or worse, move away. And there is discouragement that my profession, teaching, has become a political punching bag for all the powers that be.
I certainly need to know about letting it go.
Christin writes "One thing we especially need is courage - a holy boldness. It's time to strap on your sword and go to war."
I couldn't agree more. Meekness will not dispel my depression, guilt, or discouragement. Intentional boldness will. But in order to take hold of the sword, I need to let go of lesser things; things that I often have no control over. I have no control over any of the disabilities or challenges my students face. I have no control over how my students are parented. I have no control over what the legislature thinks about teachers and teaching. Those things I cannot change, I must let go.
What Women Should Know about Letting it Go ends each chapter with a Bible study which helps us to ponder and then put into practice the truths that Christin shares. To win a free copy of Christin's book, please post a comment about what you think you need to let go of as a teacher along with your email address.
What are you holding onto that keeps you from real rest, restoration, and renewal? I think it's time for us to learn how to let it go. Get your free chapter of What Women Should Know about Letting it Go here.
Be blessed!
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