This road of learning has not been an easy one for either of us. Not much has come easily for her. There have been days when we both wanted to quit. Days she felt stupid and completely lacking. Days I felt that way about myself as well. Desperately wanting to have THE answer. But, all along God has encouraged and renewed. Every morning, His faithfulness has given us both the strength to try again, to keep going, to never quit.
Every school day of every year for the past 6 years we get up and start again. We keep planting seeds of learning and once in a while seeing glimpses of progress. We often quote to one another a simple but profound message that 'we don't quit, we persevere.' It may seem simple but it spurs us on. We're a team.
The Lord says we reap what we sow. We've been sowing and now we are reaping. Boy it's been a long road. Our daughter is reading, writing, doing math, learning Spanish and succeeding in all of it. It hasn't been quick or easy. But, it's been worth it. For the first time, she's reaping a harvest of learning and understanding like never before. I am beyond and simply grateful.
As thrilled as I am about her academic success, nothing thrills me more thank what God has shown me through her. It's been the one consistent truth through the past 6 years. God has reminded me that this journey with her is much more than about reading on grade level, writing award winning papers, beating the clock on math facts or learning a foreign language. It's about more than it all coming easily - something I certainly took for granted with her siblings.
It's about those moments in between and along this not-so-easy journey. It's all the moments when she initiates a prayer for my friend's sick grand-daughter, a prayer of thanksgiving over her chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, prayers for one of her siblings as they take a test, prayers asking and trusting God to help something make sense. She's a prayer warrior. Her faith is strong. His word is being hidden deep in her heart and her life has purpose. She loves and trusts God at a young age. Her faith is great in the big and small things. Her spirit has not been broken! She is more than a conqueror in, by and through Him! That makes everything else seem small.
And, as if this wasn't enough, she talks often about growing up to do what she says she believes God has called her to do...teach. Isn't that amazing? Seems like the last place she'd want to be in in a classroom. But somehow, all the struggles and hard times have not extinguished her love for learning, teaching and sharing. God has given her compassion and strength.
He has great plans for this child of mine.
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