What Really Matters

This week has just been a bad, sad emotional week. I feel like I have been overly sensitive and gotten my feelings hurt more than I normally would.

Caleb has been making some careless errors at school and brought a few bad grades home. I of course want him to make good grades!  Caleb started playing baseball for the first time and def isn't the best player on the team. I of course want him to be confident in the sport he chooses and get a hit. While good grades and being athletic are good, I am most proud that when I had conference with his teacher she said before we start talking about grades I just want to talk about your sweet Caleb and how kind he is, a kindness you don't normally see. He is kind to everyone and always willing to help anyone. Now that is what really matters!  That is what makes me proud!

We had a similar week with Ella where I thought school was going great and she was bringing home all good grades but when they tested her reading, she was a little behind where she should be. She is also doing tumbling again after a break last year and is a little behind her peers. I want her to be an awesome reader and I want her to be great at tumbling. Then I get a text from her teacher this week telling me how sweet and helpful she is with an Austic child. She reads to him and is always trying to help him. That's what really matters!  She also went to tumbling this week and a little girl in her class couldn't do a cartwheel and she gets in the car and tells me about it and says "mommy I felt bad for her so I said encouraging words to her even when others laughed". That is what really matters!  That is what makes me proud!

I say this not to brag on my kids. I say this to say that sometimes I focus on the things that don't matter as much (like good grades and being athletic) instead of focusing on what really matters - their hearts. I am thankful for the reminder and pray that instead of being the best at everything that they are kind, caring, humble, and love Jesus!  That's all as a parent I really want for my kids!