My high-achieving girl held back some tears today. Last year at the fifth grade awards ceremony, she won almost everything and was the top of her class. She elected to go into a very challenging middle school program, where everyone was also the very top of their classes. Sometimes by one point, someone else took the honors. That's difficult for a preteen girl, especially if the top honors go to your very good friends. Especially if the girl you went to school with last year elected to go into a less challenging program, and took all the honors for her program. Especially if people literally stepped on your toes and ruined your new summer sandals as they raced past you across the assembly row to collect their certificates.
Tears of disappointment. Tears from feeling like a failure, when she had actually done EXTREMELY well. Tears that Jesus sees and catches in his tear bottle.
Thank you God, for being the God of all comfort when my arms, and pep talks, and lullabies, and let's have yogurt together don't do the trick. Thank you, God, for loving my daughter more than I do. For seeing when they applaud the band, but not the orchestra. When they call out every name on the five math meets, but not the Latin scholars. For knowing that we can't take part in every after-school activity and every scholastic or athletic meet, and every summer enrichment program because there are seven of us, and we can only drive so many places and spend so much money. Thank you for beginning to teach her even now that winning isn't everything, and that success in your eyes can look very different than recognition.
Show her what You see when she doesn't feel beautiful in her preteen body. Whisper in her ear that the plans you have for her are good, and perfect. Let her find her desire for perfection in You, and not her own accomplishments.
Show me what You see when I don't feel beautiful in my middle-aging body. Whisper in my ear that the plans you have for us are good, and perfect. Let me find my desires for perfection in You, and not my own accomplishments.
Hold us when we didn't do as well as we had hoped.
7 My salvation and honor come from God alone.
He is my mighty rock, my refuge
Psalm 26:7
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