sheila dougal- a woman found: You never know

In the district I work, nurses have to work late on the Thursday of parent/teacher conference night. So last night I was there until eight, hence no blog post.

You never know what can happen in a day. Your house could catch fire. Your grandchild could drown in your pool while you're watching T.V. You could have a stroke. You could get hit by a car while riding your bike on the way to school. I'm not just being a doomsayer here. Between yesterday afternoon and this morning I found out all of these things happened to people I know. My heart aches for the people involved in all of these situations. People to pray for.

It's the beginning of fall break for me and the boys. They get one week, I get two. Tomorrow is baseball. Sunday I'm really looking forward to. And then a week of... He knows. And I trust Him with it. I know not what can happen in a day. I do know the One who will use all that happens in my days to mold me more and more into the image of His Son. So be it!

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"--yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.- James 4:13-14

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.- Romans 8:28-29

Connor's teacher wrote a few things about him that made me glad despite his struggling grades. She wrote that he asks good questions and that he accepts responsibility and learns from his mistakes. Those two statements hold a lot more credit than A's in my book!

My two boys are the odd couple for sure. One is always moving, one I am always trying to get moving. One is very academic, a good puzzle solver...a thinker. The other will chase any fast moving object, be quick to hurry through eating or any assignment so he can go chase a fast moving object. One could easily excel in school. The other will probably always struggle in school.

I obviously want my kids to get good grades, but I don't place the emphasis of my approval on the grade. I do place it on their willingness to work hard, listen and learn and take responsibility for their choices. To hear Connor's teacher point out these characteristics in him thrilled me, despite my concern for his grades. I know as long as he keeps asking good questions and is willing to learn from his mistakes, take responsibility and work hard, he'll do just fine.