Savor the Moment

Ever have that moment when all doubts disappear and you know that God has certainly helped you make all of the right choices? So far! Last evening was such a moment. Ward and I have had these moments before. They are usually ones which involve our children and the directions their lives take, fueled by milestone decisions. The decision to home school was one. The decision to have Wally stay in the states at a private boarding school for his senior year while we were a half a world away was another. Betty's staying at home for her senior year and not attending the private boarding school; her choice of college; Wally's internship all of those summers away from home.

All of those tough choices that we agonized and prayed over and ultimately left in God's hands and trusted Him when the way seemed clear; we were always rewarded well after the fact and in hindsight that those choices were the absolute best we could have made, though they often seemed painful (or selfish) at the time. And for a moment you hear the voice of God saying, "I told you . . .you can trust me!"

Again last evening at the school sports banquet was such a moment. The Beaver didn't even want to go! I had purchased the tickets weeks ago so Ward and I held fast and said hey, you're going, we're all going. (Mind you, we know what these events are like, it was scheduled from 6-9 so that tells you it would be several hours of kids names being called and going up for awards, trophies, etc. . . . ) Anyway, I credit the school for keeping this as painless as possible, and actually even fun! Coaches were given a set time limit to hand out awards and they stuck to it. The awards given out were not given frivolously . . . they had meaning and they were earned. What a concept. (And a contradiction to the every kid gets a trophy, every kid is a winner, every kid is the best notion!)

The Beaver picked up several awards in baseball. He had the most RBIs, and the most stolen bases . . . not bad as an eighth grader on the Varsity team, but hey, it is a small school. :-) For soccer he picked up most improved, but the remarks his coach made were an award in themselves. He said Ben gave 110%, had no fear, and then made fun of his voice, because Ben spent a lot of time yelling and calling to his teammates.

But the savor the moment came when Ben received the Falcon Award. This award is given to the player who exemplifies what this little Christian school is all about, in short, Godly character in action. Wow! Ward and I looked at each other to see if we had heard this announcement correctly! Sure enough, there was our son, who has complained on a pretty regular basis about the school, stepping up to receive this award.

We had never really doubted that putting the Beaver in this school was the absolute best thing to do . . . but there are always those little niggling thoughts (or perhaps it is the big kid's niggling voice!) that might let a little wavering thought creep in . . . but after last night those thoughts are gone. It is the moment when God reaches down and says, "why do you doubt, only trust in me." Savor that moment!