Awards Assembly
He who seeks good finds goodwill. Proverbs 11:27
For years, Roger had poked and prodded Gordon, his oldest son, to be a better student. Roger was always a little disappointed in Gordon and his B-average grades. He never quite measured up /to Roger’s expectations.
* the act of prodding; a poke
or jab. 4. any of various pointed instruments used as a goad,
especially an electrified rod that administers a mild shock: a cattle
prod.
* poked and prodded; Making contact
with someone using your hand or finger - usually repeatedly. This will
often being annoying to the other person unless you're just having fun.
* measure up (to somebody/something)
to reach a standard that is as good as someone or something else
When Gordon was a senior in high school, Roger was puzzled /by an invitation to a student awards assembly.
He couldn’t imagine any awards //that Gordon would win. Roger went /to the event anyway, but grew increasingly annoyed /at watching other students march up the aisle for applause. Why was he here? Why was his son so mediocre?
*win;
2.
acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavor.
Finally, the principal came /to the last presentation—a new award /for an exceptional student. Roger was astonished /to hear Gordon’s name announced, followed by a long description of his son’s fine character, kindness, trustworthiness, and quiet leadership. The principal finished /by thanking Gordon, saying, “[No one //who has really gotten to know you] will ever be quite the same again.”
Roger had never gotten to know his son, much less appreciate him /for who he was.
In his efforts to teach and “improve” Gordon, Roger became blind /to his son’s best qualities. It reminds us of this Proverb: “[He //who seeks good] finds goodwill, but evil comes to him //who searches for it” (11:27). Teach your children, but remember also to seek out and acknowledge their positive traits. You’ll discover a son or daughter to be proud of.
Before you say good night…
Are you overlooking any of your children’s positive traits?
How might you change the way () you “value” your kids?
Heavenly Father, teach us to value our children /for who they are, rather than who we wish them to be. Help us to know their thoughts and dreams, their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and failures. Enable us to love them unequivocally, just as You love us. Amen.
*unequivocal
Illustration
adapted from “Awards Ceremony” by P. R. from Sons: A Father’s Love by
Bob Carlisle (Nashville, Tenn.: Word Publishing, 1999).