The Making of a King

 

I am grateful to God for the successful take off of another school year. Hopefully, the children are well on their way towards excelling in academics and good conduct this year, all to the glory of the Lord. My thoughts today center on reflections from the past school year. I was driving with my son for an IGP (Individualized Graduation Plan) meeting, the kind of meeting where you sit with a counselor that helps you pick classes for the next step of your child’s academic career.

My son was kind of quiet on the ride, but then, he usually doesn’t say much anyway. He was particularly quiet as we sat and waited for our turn to go in. I longed to connect with him, to catch a glimpse of his thoughts. So when one of the parents moved, I quickly sat on the seat that was closest to him. For conversation starters I asked him who his favorite teacher was. I saw his face light up when he told me with all surety that it was his science teacher. Curious, I asked what made her stand out for him. He tried to shrug out of it and responded; “She is just a good teacher.” Knowing him, I perceived there was more to it, so I gently probed a little deeper.

Finally my son rewarded my inquisitiveness and told me all about it. He told me how his feet had almost slipped because he was often distracted in class by some happy go lucky friend he had made. The teacher noticed and sounded a word of caution  “Watch your step son,” she said. “Don’t let the good that you have slip away.” Those few words touched a special chord within my son’s heart. He told me that he walked away from that meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and identity and amended his ways. After he finished recounting that experience he asked me if I wanted to meet this beloved science teacher. “Of course!” I replied. (Who wouldn’t?)  So after we were done with the business of the day, my son walked me proudly down the hall to meet this special lady. When I met her, I looked with love on the woman who had invested much love and good counsel in the life of my young man. I let her know she was well appreciated. She smiled and simply said “He is a good boy, and I am so proud of him.”

I know the tendency today is for everyone to mind their own business. What I can tell you is that I was one grateful mom driving away from the school that morning. My thoughts were, “Whose child is in my care, that I may show kindness to him or her?” At that moment the old saying rang true in my ears, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Two biblical examples readily come to mind of people who helped to raise children that were not biologically theirs and placed them on the path of greatness. Moses was born as a Hebrew slave but raised as an Egyptian prince by Pharaoh’s daughter. This princess groomed Moses for the palace, a necessary path to fulfilling his destiny (Exodus 2:7-10). The little girl Esther, though orphaned, was blessed to have an uncle who took her in, adopted her, and raised her with destiny in mind. When the time came to step into her God ordained call to Queenship and leverage her position for the deliverance of God’s people, she was ready! We must not forget, however, that it was Mordecai who labored over Esther and laid the ground work (Esther 2: 7-11).  The question becomes “Whose King or Queen are you grooming?”                                                

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace” (Psalm 144:12).