05/21/13

It is the end of the school year!

You know what that means....

AWARD ceremonies!

It is a joy to reward those children who have worked diligently over the school year and attained a goal of something. 

Mikayla and Wesley earned rewards last week with their talents.  Mikayla received the Drama Award and Wesley received an award for his use of space in a piece of artwork.

I was so tickled for them and quite proud.

May I be a bit abrupt here, though, and look at these awards in a new light?

Awards in this present world will one day collect dust, rot away, could be stolen, or even thrown away by non-sentimental people.

Awards in our world are wonderful, but they do not last.

I always hear from other people year after year these types of things:

• They were so disappointed their child did not receive an award.  
• They are frustrated that their child was not recognized.
• It seems like all the awards go to the same people.
• Their child was not told at the beginning of the year that "this" was what the teacher was looking for so how will they ever win that award?

While I completely understand where they are coming from in their statements, we have to see reality here.  

I know this may seem a shock, but not all people see what we see in our children... especially the older they get and the more students a teacher may have.

Here are some thoughts that I have been "chewing" on since last week:

Are we teaching our children to only act a certain way in order to gain an award?

Are we showing the value of what they have learned in the year is less important than an award made of something that will fade away?

Are we teaching our children that it is more important to do everything as unto the Lord and not necessarily for the accolades of men/women/teachers/coaches?

While I understand the disappointment when a child does not receive an award, my concern is more of a spiritual nature.... 

...It is that of a child laying up treasures in Heaven where moth and rust aren't going to corrupt it and thieves could break through and steal.  (Matthew 6:19-20)

At this time of year when awards are rampant and feelings seem to always get hurt, let's take the time to look at the eternal picture.  One that reveals the true rewards of a child's journey in learning:

• How has your child personally and/or spiritually grown in the school year?  
• Is he/she learning from mistakes?
• Is he/she coming alongside others and helping?
• Is he/she taking the time to grow in study skills...whether they are academic or spiritual?

There is a lot more to life than earning an award here on earth. 

Let's strive to teach our children to reach for those rewards that will never tarnish.  The ones with eternal value.

Matthew 6:21 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

II Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.