"For These Times"

I was listening to a Martina McBride cd last night while trying to fall asleep. Sometimes I do that, turn music on because having it quietly in the background helps me sleep better than pure silence. Some people have to sleep with fans on, well I guess music is kind of like my "fan." Anyway I had just turned off the light when the song below came on. It really did make me think about my own job. There are so many different kids that come into the daycare. Some have had some very sad backgrounds before they started coming to St. Charles, parents abandoning them with their grandparents, watching parents go through a divorce, but too young to really understand the reasoning behind their parents splitting up..... other things like that. The nice thing about working at St. Charles is that the families who put their children at the daycare are the one's that are very involved and caring and affectionate with their kids. They want what's best for them. For the kids who had it rough before coming to the daycare we can tell by how they act that they've had it rough. They need a little bit more patience and attention from us teachers, and this song helped remind me that what I really need for my job is a "a heart full of tender mercy and arms I will open wide." It's the least I can do to help make these kids lives a little bit better by making their time spend in my classroom a happy and safe place for them to fall.

For These Times lyrics
Martina McBride

In these times in which we live
Where the worst of what we live
Is laid out for all the world on the front page
And the sound of someone's heartbreak
Is a soundbite at the news break
With a close shot of the tears rollin' down their face
Blessed be the child who turns a loving eye
And stops to pray
For these times in which we live

In these most uncertain hours
Where the balance of power
Is a fight that is fought every day
And freedom is a word
Some cry out and some whisper
And some are just too quick to give away
Blessed be the one who stands by the one
On the battle line
For these times in which we live

Well give me a heart full of tender mercy
And arms I will open wide

For these times in which we live
Seems like the only answer is
Givin' up on findin' one at all
And we hide behind unsure
Pull the blinds and lock the doors
And hang a pleasant picture on the wall
Blessed is the believer who knows love is our redeemer
And the only breath of life
For these times in which we live

Well give me a heart full of tender mercy
And arms I will open wide
Yeah give me words full of loving kindness
And hands ready to hold up a light
For these times in which we live
For these times in which we live