That's why I'm going to keep teaching middle schoolers at our parish until I can't go on.
Just started my 19th year teaching Old Testament to our 6th graders. A couple of years ago, I vowed I would limit myself to Wednesday night, and not double up on Sunday (different dynamic, way too many kids).
This year, my son started in the HS ministry, which is right after 4:30 Sunday Mass. It's important that he continue, so I made the decision we'll both go to 4:30, and I'll spend the time as a "floater" in classes that are short a teacher.
I was put to work right away, in a class that was, ahem, energetic...lol. The class for the night was on discovering the Bible, and how to locate chapters/verses, I had them look up 1 John 3:18, my favorite verse, and one I'm passionate about. I surprised myself, as they sat quietly during my "sermon".
Is this part of His "plan"? All I know is that just about every year, 6th grade struggles to get the necessary number of teachers to meet the Safe Child guidelines, i.e. two adults to a room. There's been a few times where it was just me, although another adult would check in every 10-15 minutes.
Hopefully, I'll still be around and able to teach my grandson in 6 years.
Too often teachers present what they think their church would have them teach rather than depending on Gods Spirit to teach the children through them what he would have them to know.
After years of teaching I would suspect you already know this......as teachers bare a great responsibility to get it right.
If, as a catholic you believe this, why does catholicism teach purgatory and indulgences?
Our sins are either forgiven or not....right?