Reach for Your Star

That was the theme for my daughter's middle school awards ceremony. I didn't think too long or hard about the meaning of "Reach for Your Star" when I saw it that morning. My focus was on my daughter and her friends. It wasn't until I looked at that title on her awards program just now and thought back on the ceremony that I fully grasped its essence. What seemed like a a nice sentiment that encouraged children to find their own success in their own way provoked my thoughts on the matter.

You know, every single child received an award for something that day. ALL 300 8th graders got an award! I thought, "How nice! Everyone got something." Although everyone was a winner that day, it became very apparent that some were bigger winners than others. But that was okay, because everyone was recognized for something.

There are so many life parallels I can pull from this event and write to. But I will limit myself to this one impression it left with me - how the event was an echo of the way society says we are to raise our children today. As I reflected over all of this, it just got me to thinking...

I think there is a deeper lesson here that we can derive. All children need to feel loved, cared for, and good about themselves. We all know that. As parents and teachers, we walk a fine line. We need to build up our children's self esteem recognizing their strenths, weaknesses, talents, and abilities. But we must be realistic in doing so. Children graduate from high school with shelves full of awards. Then they go off to college, try to get a job in the real world, and reality hits them in the face. Many do very well, but others don't. They don't get the participation award just for doing their job or going to class. They lose confidence in who they thought they were. I've known quite a few former bright, aspiring students come back home 'defeated' by college. The bottom line - society built some of them up with the right intentions but in the wrong way for the wrong reasons.

So what are we to do? How do we help our child reach for their own special star? Well, for starters, let's build up strong characters in our children by helping them have a healthy self esteem...one that is realistic and help them succeed in life. Let's reward them and cherish THEIR individual special abilities. Let's help them discover their true strengths and weaknesses and build upon those things. Help them develop goals in life and show them how they can accomplish those goals. We need to get involved in our children's education, extracurricular activities, and most importantly, their SPIRITUAL UPBRINGING. Let's take time to know our kids and have high, realistic - not lower - expectations of them as well. Offer encouragement instead of empty praises - that is give praise when it is truly due. Love on them and ensure they understand that you love them unconditionally. Most importantly, build up your child in the Lord Jesus Christ asking for His help in raising your child. He's just a prayer away... or two or three...or however many it takes to raise that child!

"Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless." Psalm 127:1

I don't know all of the answers, but God does and he's on call 24 hours a day!
In His Love, Cathy