She has gone for Poetry for the past three years and just loves performing. She has never won a ribbon and, with this being her last year to participate, she was really hoping to earn one.
This year, there was a twist.
Last Saturday, after our Super Saturday at school, I received a call from a fellow teacher who was in charge of the Sword Drill portion of Fine Arts. One of the team members had broken his finger and could not participate and the alternate was not able to go, either. She was asking if Mikayla would be willing to be a part of the team for Sword Drill so the sixth grade would not have to pull out of the competition.
I asked Mikayla and left the decision up to her. She said that she was glad to do it, but just know she stunk at finding verses quickly. haha.
Everyone involved was so appreciative and it put a joy in our hearts I can't explain.
She had two days of actual practice with the teacher in charge. The other children work on this since January or February. (Which is how long she has been working on her poem for the Poetry Competition.)
Yesterday we began the trek to the host school which was about 1 1/2 hours away. I sortof remembered how to get there but was not certain of the exact location so I told Steve we should just use the GPS. We used the one on his phone since he forgot his regular GPS at home. That thing took us around our elbow to get to our thumb!! We would have been there 15 minutes earlier, probably, if we had not been directed on and off so many roads. We could have stayed on the same road and gotten there in less time! It became comical after a while.
Mikayla would have Sword Drill first. She was a bit nervous, but had a smile on her face and a willingness in her heart. Her partner was very glad she came and was very supportive of her, as were so many other people/parents.
Steve and I sat in the back because we didn't want to be a distraction. By the way Steve was acting throughout the heats you would have thought he was at a football game. It was hilarious hearing him cheering her on. He was adorable and it made me love him more.
There were several times she almost made it in the seven seconds that were given. She jumped up and earned points a few times as well. They made it to the final round, too! During the final round practice, Mikayla got both of the practice drills! It brought smiles and quiet cheers to those in the audience cheering her on! During the final performance, she was still able to earn a couple of points for their team, and through it all she never lost any points, which is huge because with her lack of practice that could have happened!
Once the points were totaled, the team Mikayla was representing won SECOND place!!
That was straight from the Lord!
It was a joy to mine and Steve's hearts to see how her willingness was blessed by the Lord. All those around her shared that same thing with her. No matter whether she won it was special, but the Lord blessed doubly!
Her poem that afternoon went well, too. Her love is speaking in front of people and giving her all. She was concerned on the way home that the poem recitation was not good enough to place, but we helped her understand that as long as she did her best, that is all that mattered!
Today she found out she did not win anything in the Poetry Competition. She was honest with me and told me she was so disappointed and even angry because it was something she had wanted for so long.
I completely understand that anger. It was something she can no longer compete in because she has aged out.
It was then that I began to share with her what the Lord had already been speaking about with me. You see, I had a feeling she would not place in the poetry because I saw the competition. The Lord gave me this to share with her this afternoon:
Our trip down to the competition was not what we had planned at all. The roads that we were taken on to get there were unknown, curvy, off and on main highways, and just not how we knew would be the easiest way to get to the school. We got to see some countryside we would not have seen if we had gone down the straight road of our own choice. I would not have connected some roads and how they could be traveled if the GPS had taken us the way it *should* have taken us. We still got there safely, it just was a different learning curve. (literally! haha!)
What a word picture the Lord gave me as I began to explain all of this to Mikayla.
You see, sometimes God gives the greatest blessings when He takes us off OUR path, and puts us on His. Mikayla had a pathway that led to earning a ribbon for Fine Arts. She has only gone for Poetry in all of her years of competition so that was where her mind immediately led when thinking about the ribbon. God took her off her own course and put her on one that was unknown. and all over the place until HE received the glory for the ribbon she accomplished. It was all because of HIM.
Does that mean He didn't think she would give Him the glory if she won a ribbon in Poetry?
No, I do not think so.
I think the Lord just had to take her through this experience to teach her that sometimes our blessings do not come from the path we have planned, but from God taking us out of our comfort zone pathway so we can depend more on Him.
I am in awe of what the Lord has done and taught ME through this experience this week. I realize Mikayla did not quite understand the full word picture I was sharing with her because she is dealing with the loss of what she held so precious. In time, I know the Lord will help her to understand all that He is showing her right now, just as He does for us all.
Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
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