I Will Lift My Eyes Unto The Lord, From Whence Cometh My Help
Submitted By Cindy Palen, Patriot Mom and Teacher
“In my distress I cried unto; the Lord, and he heard me.” Psalm 120:1
Why am I writing a blog entry on a Wednesday morning? Tomorrow my children will take 3 Latin midterm exams, 3 math tests, 2 history tests, and turn in a history midterm project. I do not have time to blog, but I must. I am writing to encourage myself, and pass along to you what the Lord is telling me.
Verse 2 of Psalm 120 says, “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.”
The lying lips I am hearing in the night come from the Roaring Lion, the Accuser of the Brethren, Satan himself. They tell me that the D’s my children got on their last test are my fault. They tell me that I should have studied with them more. They tell me to work harder, press harder, be mean and make them study! Thankfully, my gentle Savior comes to me and reveals the truth of His word and puts out the fiery darts of the enemy. He reminds me to have joy. He tells me that a D on a test isn’t sin. It isn’t going to keep them out of college. It isn’t even going to be remembered a year from now.
How I speak to my children will be remembered. The joy I cultivated in my home will be remembered. The fruits of the spirit I demonstrate in my life will be remembered on judgment day, a D on a test will not. Perspective. Going to God’s word will change our perspective from the cares of this life to the eternal.
I got A’s in school. I studied, but for the most part, it just came easy to me. I tend to expect that same A standard in my children. I was devastated when I got my first C in 6th grade. I need to recognize that God made us all with different strengths. My creative, musically gifted child might not get A’s on all her math tests. That’s okay.
I cannot hold my children’s hands through school. I only have two hands, and they, collectively, have eight. It is physically impossible. The physical description of my limited limbs and their many needs is a good insight into the spiritual. We cannot, as parents do everything for our children. Even if I had one child, and could “carry” him through school, it would not be in his best interest. We are a University model school. Our aim is to prepare our children for the University. If we carry them through until 12th grade, they will not be prepared. Students need to learn how to fail, and analyze what caused the failure. They then can change their behavior and achieve better results. When one child comes home with an A on a test in a class she normally struggles in, we ask, “What did you do differently to achieve those results?” When a child comes home with a D, we ask, “What could you do differently to get a better grade next time?” This is the time for our children to learn how to act and gain independence.
Part of independence is falling, and getting back up. Don’t be afraid to let your child fall. And don’t take it personally when they do. You are training them to be adults. I know it is devastating when our child forgets his midterm project, forgets to study for a test, or takes a test and leaves one whole section blank. It is often more crushing to us than to them. Don’t let it be. Don’t let their mistakes take their toll on you. Consider it a wonderful learning experience, and focus on the Savior instead.
Psalm 121
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Cindy, I could not have said it better. It is so hard to learn to let your children fail and that it does not reflect on you. Thanks for the encouragement today. You are always a blessing.
Thank you Cindy. The standards that we all work so hard to attain tend to pull us further and further away from the ONLY standard. Great words of encouragement for our wild and wonderful Wednesday!
You always point us back to the Word - thank you! I could feel a peace and comfort as well as a little sting of conviction flow over me as I read your entry - I needed that today. Thank you, Cindy for sharing God's truth and wisdom with us - there is nothing more powerful!!
Cindy,
Thank you for being so honest and transparent and reminding all of us just WHO those condemning thoughts come from. I always love hearing you speak and reading your wise words. What a sweet piece of encouragement this is.