I've been marinating on this word quite a bit lately: advocate.
It all started when someone told me that the word for avocado was the same as the word for lawyer in French. I didn't believe them. Sure enough, 'avocat' is both in French. (Thank you Google Translate!) Still not sure why, but hey...I'll take it.
Anyway, that was just what got me marinating on it. My actual thoughts have nothing to do with avocados...or lawyers...
But anyway: advocate.
What does it actually mean?
How does look in my context?
Who do I do it for?
Who does it for me?
We all advocate for something, don't we? Let's look at the definition before I saunter on...
It all started when someone told me that the word for avocado was the same as the word for lawyer in French. I didn't believe them. Sure enough, 'avocat' is both in French. (Thank you Google Translate!) Still not sure why, but hey...I'll take it.
Anyway, that was just what got me marinating on it. My actual thoughts have nothing to do with avocados...or lawyers...
But anyway: advocate.
What does it actually mean?
How does look in my context?
Who do I do it for?
Who does it for me?
We all advocate for something, don't we? Let's look at the definition before I saunter on...
advocate
noun
ˈadvəkət/
- 1.a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
"he was an untiring advocate of economic reform"synonyms: champion, upholder, supporter, backer, promoter, proponent, exponent, protector, patron; More
- 2.a person who puts a case on someone else's behalf.
"care managers can become advocates for their clients"
(Thanks, again, Google for making looking up words so insanely easy...)
I feel like so much of my job is as an advocate....a champion....a backer....a supporter....a protector. Sometimes by advocating for someone I'm helping them learn how they can advocate for themselves. Sometimes I am standing in the gap for them...fighting for them...building a wall that they can find a bit of reprieve behind.
As a principal, I want to be an advocate for students. There is nothing that makes me angrier in the realm of education then when parents don't do this for their children. (That is a whole other topic for another day, that I probably will never post about because it makes my blood boil and I tend to get a bit preachy and angry rather than trying to help someone peacefully see what I'm saying. I pray a lot before some parent meetings...and that's all I'm going to say about that.) As adults, we are blessed with the opportunity to stand in the gap for the next generation....to hoist them up on our shoulders to see and do more than we ever can or could. What a privilege...and overwhelming responsibility at times.
Anyway, that's not the path I started this post to walk down...
As a principal, I want to be an advocate for students. There is nothing that makes me angrier in the realm of education then when parents don't do this for their children. (That is a whole other topic for another day, that I probably will never post about because it makes my blood boil and I tend to get a bit preachy and angry rather than trying to help someone peacefully see what I'm saying. I pray a lot before some parent meetings...and that's all I'm going to say about that.) As adults, we are blessed with the opportunity to stand in the gap for the next generation....to hoist them up on our shoulders to see and do more than we ever can or could. What a privilege...and overwhelming responsibility at times.
Anyway, that's not the path I started this post to walk down...
Lately, my big wondering has been: who advocates for me? Who stands in the gap for me when I need it?
To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty fortunate.
Although I am single andoften sometimes wish that the Lord had already brought that soulmate that I hope that he has in store for me along, I know that I'm not alone in my journey.
I have family that stands in that gap for me. They will go to bat for me and be safety nets for me when I need to go to bat for myself. Sure, they're spread around the world and I may or may not always choose to listen to them, but they are there and solid. I never doubt that they care and will raise a voice if I have none.
And I have friends. Oh my goodness do I have friends. I am honored to go to the mat for them and don't doubt that they would go to the mat for me. They are amazing, and so many of them are so much more than friends. They fight for (and sometimes with) me when my strength is failing and I don't want to press forward. They speak up for me when I have no voice. They are my brothers and my sisters. There aren't words to go into just how much I adore tribe that God has given me, but just know that they are splendid.
What seem to I find myself most blessed by in this season, though, is the group I have at work. If you have known me in this season of growth in my life that being a principal is, you've probably heard me talk about the admin team that I work with and just how blessed I am to learn and work alongside them. I also have an incredible group of teachers that I lead that I can be a pillar for and who can also be a pillar for me.
I know that I am blessed.
And yet sometimes I still wonder, who is my advocate? Or better yet, who should I be advocating for that is currently slipping through the cracks.
No real answer today...just words. Story of my life.
To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty fortunate.
Although I am single and
I have family that stands in that gap for me. They will go to bat for me and be safety nets for me when I need to go to bat for myself. Sure, they're spread around the world and I may or may not always choose to listen to them, but they are there and solid. I never doubt that they care and will raise a voice if I have none.
And I have friends. Oh my goodness do I have friends. I am honored to go to the mat for them and don't doubt that they would go to the mat for me. They are amazing, and so many of them are so much more than friends. They fight for (and sometimes with) me when my strength is failing and I don't want to press forward. They speak up for me when I have no voice. They are my brothers and my sisters. There aren't words to go into just how much I adore tribe that God has given me, but just know that they are splendid.
What seem to I find myself most blessed by in this season, though, is the group I have at work. If you have known me in this season of growth in my life that being a principal is, you've probably heard me talk about the admin team that I work with and just how blessed I am to learn and work alongside them. I also have an incredible group of teachers that I lead that I can be a pillar for and who can also be a pillar for me.
I know that I am blessed.
And yet sometimes I still wonder, who is my advocate? Or better yet, who should I be advocating for that is currently slipping through the cracks.
No real answer today...just words. Story of my life.
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