Trash
Cans and Gratitude
Hi Everyone! Melissa Gross here. It is such an
honor and a pleasure to be able to share with you today during Lynn’s focus on
gratitude and thankfulness as we head into the holiday season.
If
you had asked me what I was grateful for as the 2005-06 school year began, I’m
positive trash cans would not have been on the list. However, trash cans played
a large part in my life that year, and looking back now I can honestly say that
I’m grateful for those trash cans.
I
was beginning my second year as a technology and careers teacher at a middle
school in East Texas. That same year I was also taking night courses to
complete my master’s degree, which meant most days I had to leave the middle
school campus when the final bell rang in time to make it to my night class. It
was going to be a busy year, so I didn’t think much about it when I first
learned that I was awarded lunch duty on “A” days. Basically I had to monitor
the lunch room every other day for 30 minutes that year.
The
assistant principal met me at the door my first day of lunch duty to explain my
assignment. It seemed pretty simple at first; I could stand at the front of the
lunchroom or walk around and simply watch to be sure the students were
following the lunchroom rules. About 10 minutes before lunch ended, the
assistant principal came over to me pushing one of those large 55 gallon
plastic trash cans on wheels.
“We
don’t want everyone trying to throw their trash away as they leave the
lunchroom when the bell rings.” He said, “It causes a huge traffic jam, so, we
just push these up and down the aisles and let students throw their trash away
during these last few minutes.”
My
first thoughts went something like this - Seriously!?!
He wants me to push a trash can! I am a certified teacher; I have a degree in
business management; I am only a few courses away from having an MBA; I am in
my nice slacks, cute blouse and heels; I am not a garbage man; I am not getting
paid enough to do trash duty every other day for nine months!
Of
course, I did not verbalize these thoughts. I simply pushed the trash can up
and down between the long rows of tables while students threw in their trash.
I’m ashamed to say that I maintained this attitude for quite a while;
especially on those days when a student threw in a half full milk carton that
splashed up and out of the trash can onto my cute blouse or brushed their messy
ice cream wrapper against my arm as they tried to get it in the can! However, I
realized along the way that God was working in my life through this experience
and my attitude changed to one of gratitude.
As
I look back on that year, I can now say that …
·
I
am grateful that I was able to get to know the students on a more informal
level during lunch time.
·
I
am grateful for the conversations I overheard as I pushed that trash can up and
down the rows of tables, making me more aware of my students’ achievements and
struggles.
·
I
am grateful I had an excuse not to spend lunch in the teacher’s lounge where
complaining and gossip were the norm.
·
I
am grateful for the youth pastor who came each week and ate lunch with the
students. What a wonderful example of a shepherd tending his flock.
·
I
am grateful that I did not have after-school duty, which would have made me
late for my night classes at the university.
·
I
am grateful that I witnessed students inviting new students (evacuees relocated
after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans) to sit with them at lunch.
·
I
am grateful for the stories I heard of how my students and their families and
churches pulled together after our town was filled to overflowing when
Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf Coast.
·
I
am grateful for the 8th grader who offered to push the trash can for
me the day he knew I wasn’t feeling well.
·
I
am grateful that God loved me enough to teach me humility and gratitude in the
midst of my work day.
·
I
am grateful that I was awarded lunch duty and honored with the task of pushing
the trash can!
Thanks
Lynn for letting me share my lesson about gratitude today!
My friend, Kerri, posted this today on Facebook and I asked her if I could share it here today. I love this! So simple and easy to do... 
