The right words at a significant time
Wow, it's been a busy time. Last Friday and Saturday we attended several school events including Anika's year 12 formal dinner on Friday night and graduation on Saturday afternoon. We had a lovely time seeing homeschooled students from far and wide come together to celebrate the end of 12 years of school. How lovely it was to sit in the audience as Anika received her awards for all of her hard work.
During those two days we received many comments such as, "She looks beautiful." "She played the piano so well, I love listening to her." "Hasn't she done well?" but most of all we heard, "You must be so proud of her." Do we feel "proud"?
As I reflect on 13 years as a homeschool Mum I am reminded that the most precious thing to us has nothing to do with Anika's beauty or her achievements at her schoolwork. It is true to say that in our totally objective and unbiased opinion that she was the prettiest princess on the night of the formal (well, okay, just a little biased). It is also true to say that she has achieved well and her awards are well deserved. The OP scores won't be out for a few weeks but that is not the most precious thing either. The most precious thing to us is that our most wonderful Lord has shown Anika his marvellous grace and mercy by giving her the gift of salvation. Anika trusts in her Lord and wants to honour him.
It's possible that Anika may have achieved a better OP score if she had decided NOT to honour her Lord by choosing to study English with its associated appalling choice of texts. She might also have done better if she had chosen to study on Sundays during assessment times instead of joining with God's people in worshipping Him. A better OP perhaps, but a poorer witness to the Lord.
Anika was not the only one with a tear in her eye on Saturday. As we sat in the audience different words came to my mind. Proud? No, that's not the right word. Incredibly blessed by our Lord? Absolutely. As I was reading recently: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.'" I Cor 1:30-31.
We love you Anika, may you continue to seek to glorify the LORD in all you do.
During those two days we received many comments such as, "She looks beautiful." "She played the piano so well, I love listening to her." "Hasn't she done well?" but most of all we heard, "You must be so proud of her." Do we feel "proud"?
As I reflect on 13 years as a homeschool Mum I am reminded that the most precious thing to us has nothing to do with Anika's beauty or her achievements at her schoolwork. It is true to say that in our totally objective and unbiased opinion that she was the prettiest princess on the night of the formal (well, okay, just a little biased). It is also true to say that she has achieved well and her awards are well deserved. The OP scores won't be out for a few weeks but that is not the most precious thing either. The most precious thing to us is that our most wonderful Lord has shown Anika his marvellous grace and mercy by giving her the gift of salvation. Anika trusts in her Lord and wants to honour him.
It's possible that Anika may have achieved a better OP score if she had decided NOT to honour her Lord by choosing to study English with its associated appalling choice of texts. She might also have done better if she had chosen to study on Sundays during assessment times instead of joining with God's people in worshipping Him. A better OP perhaps, but a poorer witness to the Lord.
Anika was not the only one with a tear in her eye on Saturday. As we sat in the audience different words came to my mind. Proud? No, that's not the right word. Incredibly blessed by our Lord? Absolutely. As I was reading recently: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.'" I Cor 1:30-31.
We love you Anika, may you continue to seek to glorify the LORD in all you do.
posted by Mrs Q @ 5:22 PM
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