Answered Prayers

I've been praying a lot for my oldest son, Michael. He is really a brilliant child, but also has some problems with distraction. He reads very well, at an 8th grade level, even though he is only in the fourth grade. Well, we prayed that Michael would be able to control himself, sit still and pay attention. If possible, that he would be able to make it through the first round of the county spelling bee. Wow! Not only did he make it through the first round, he made it to the final round, repeatedly. He and the eventual winner went for several rounds, trying to get a final spelling bee winner. Michael was actually relieved that he didn't win, because he didn't want to have to go to the state competition. However, if something happens to the 8th grade girl that won, he will have to go in her place.

It was interesting, to hear the announcements at the beginning and the introduction by the word pronouncer. He said, there may have been no cheerleaders and pep rally before you left, but there should have been. Many of you are doing what most of us can't do. You should be recognized just for getting this far. After each round, there was applause for the people who were still in the bee. The top three winners were photographed, and were given certificates and envelopes with a little cold hard cash in them! Michael wasn't expecting that, but he certainly didn't mind!

It is interesting, how much our society places prestige and honor on athletics and hardly any on academics at the critical middle school/junior high/high school time in a child's life. We need to spend more time praising people for learning self control, in practicing for spelling bees. For having good study habits. For Learning and improving ourselves through knowledge. Why not applaud these things? Now, disciplining our bodies through physical fitness is very important. I'm not against physical fitness. However, I think that being able to spell words that most adults can't even pronounce properly deserves applause, just as much as being able to shoot a ball through a hoop (as the pronouncer himself said).

Just some thoughts, and a little bit of applause for Michael and a HUGE thank you to the Lord for answered prayers.