I am finally done with EDUC 730. I had several delays this week. Princess had several appointments with specialists that we had to attend that took several days. Super Dad was planning to take the kids to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Kentucky Science Center this weekend, but the forecast had freezing rain in store for the weekend. Therefore, we had to rearrange our schedule to get the field trip in before the weekend. It was a lot of fun and a nice break from visiting doctors!
Unfortunately, all the busyness from the week left me tired and mentally exhausted so it took me working 1-2 hours each night to complete my last assignment. When it comes to my school work, I apply the principle found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I am so paranoid about making a mistake that I will read and reread an assignment 10-15 times before turning it in. No, I have not always been this way. However, the professors and staff at Liberty University challenge students to rise above where they are and improve their skills and abilities.
I think of scholarly work like developing running skills. Yesterday, I could not focus so in freezing temperatures and a chance of rain I went for a walk-run. I am not a runner; I love walks. Since I hate the cold and I need to lose weight I decided to try some running. My husband is in the Army and running is a part of that profession. He warning me that running is a PROCESS. It is something that you have to build up to because if you go all out at once there will be pain and possible damage. I heeded his advice and did the running in short, steady increments. I am sore today but it’s not unbearable. I will do another walk-run day tomorrow (Sunday is the day that I set aside for rest). To become a better runner, it is a PROCESS.
As a student, I could not understand the APA process all at once; it was a PROCESS. I did not understand how to conduct scholarly research; it was a PROCESS. I did not understand the jargon and acronyms in the field of education; it was a PROCESS. I did not understand some of the things that Dr. Holder was speaking about in class. My process: take a note or text myself something he said, then go back to my hotel and look it up…or look it up during a break. I’m not a tech person, but I wanted to understand what he was speaking about. Learning is a PROCESS. Improvement is a PROCESS.
My process involves doing everything as unto God. If I do it for myself, I can make up an excuse. If I do it for my kids, I can let them down. (Now they are part of my motivation for excelling.) If I do it for anything other than God, I can fail or find an excuse. But to do it for the King of Kings means that I must give it my all and I can’t make an excuse because He knows all. Will I always achieve my goal? No, but if I give all of my effort, purpose, intentions, and put everything into it, then I have met the principle that I chose to live by and I can rest in God’s grace.
I am sitting in front of the fire. My diplomas are on the wall. I can still here the words of my high school guidance counselor, “You’re not smart enough to go to a university.” “You’re parents are too poor to afford your education, just go to vo-tech.” (Vo-Tech was the nickname for the local community college.)
As I look at the diplomas on my wall, there’s another voice echoing in my mind. That is the voice of Christ that states “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). ““I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me” (Psalm 138:8a). “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
It has been a long process to get to where I am. It has taken a lot of planning and support from family. In each step along the way, God has provided everything that I need.
Now I get to put my feet up and rest for approximately….3 hours until the next set of classes start!
Leave a Reply