What are you trying to tell me?

I am not going to lie.  There are days, so many days, that I wonder about my professional future.  How long can I keep doing what I am doing?  What other jobs are out there for me?  Maybe it is time to do something else.  Am I even making an impact, like I felt like I once was?  

Then these little, subtle reminders keep popping up.

Two months ago at church.  There are a few families that attend the same church as my family.  There are multiple services offered, but often, we see a kid I have had in school or someone in their immediate family.  On this specific day, we were walking through church at the end of the service and a student and myself made eye contact.  He gave me this little smile, from his stoic, church face.  A connection was shared.

A month ago at a drive thru.  We have a few fast food restaurants in town.  On this certain night, I pulled up to the first window, after placing my order.  The young man working the register window looked up at me to collect payment, then he quickly looked down.  I watched him, and a grin came across his face.  He looked back up and told me the total.  I gave him my card and said, thanks (his name).  His smile grew from ear to ear.

This week at a sandwich shop.  As I was approaching the door, I could see a young kid bouncing from foot to foot near a table in the front of the shop, but she was looking straight at me through the door.  I opened the door, she froze.  Then she ran up to me and gave me a huge hug.  Her mom was laughing at the table next to where we were standing.  The child was a student of mine last year, before I moved to another building.  I asked about her teacher, her hair highlights and life.  She was so excited!  I told her she better go eat, and she went to sit down.

I took one step closer to the counter to order and the cashier had a smile on his face.  I thought, he's just wondering when I will finally order after my chat with the former student.  I order sandwiches for the family and then he smiles and says, do you remember me?  I knew it.  Another former student.  I said, "you look familiar, but I can't remember your name." (which kills me!)  He told me his name and I immediately remembered his last name.  I told him, "your last name starts with a W, but I'll say it wrong, how do you say it?"  Like the worker at the drive thru, this young man's face lit up.

As hard as each day is, and as much as I (we) get bogged down in everything that isn't kids, these moments are unforgettable.  I had to write about them, so I don't forget them.  I'm not sure what someone is trying to tell me, but I do know that these interactions with kids are constant reminders that I have to push through hard days.  For them.