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[Teaching] was hard. Some of the kids were needy and…

“[Teaching] was hard. Some of the kids were needy and vulnerable and depressed, with faces of dubious, aged concern, rumpled foreheads, downcast or shuttered eyes. Some were wild. We did not exclude anyone, because Jesus didn't. On bad days, I could not imagine what he had been thinking. I could…” quote by Anne Lamott
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““[Teaching] was hard. Some of the kids were needy and vulnerable and depressed, with faces of dubious, aged concern, rumpled foreheads, downcast or shuttered eyes. Some were wild. We did not exclude anyone, because Jesus didn't. On bad days, I could not imagine what he had been thinking. I could always feel Jesus in the room, encouraging us in every way, although maybe he would have stopped short of sharing Doritos with us.””

Anne Lamott

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Teaching was emotionally taxing, confronting vulnerable, depressed, and restless children, yet the presence of Jesus offered comfort and encouragement despite hardships.

In simple terms: Teaching was hard but faith gave comfort.

Key Takeaway

Lean on faith during tough teaching moments.

Themes

faith compassion education vulnerability resilience

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

inspirational personal.

When to use this quote

  • classroom challenges
  • supporting at‑risk youth
  • maintaining personal well‑being
  • balancing discipline and empathy

Key Concepts

spiritual support emotional labor inclusive teaching

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you sustain compassion when feeling overwhelmed?
  • What role does spirituality play in your professional life?
A Different Perspective

Faith may not solve practical needs like food, only emotional support.

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