Resources/Biblical Perspective
By Summer Lane
Photo: Deposit
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
This verse, 2 Timothy 4:7, is the model by which we should measure our efforts in life. Did we fight the good fight? Did we finish our race? Did we keep our faith? As we near the end of the school year (another year has come and gone, can you believe it?), the importance of finishing well with integrity and kindness is the topic of the day.
Hebrews 12:1 speaks about running the race of life with “endurance,” and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 uses an analogy of a prize-winning athlete to demonstrate how important it is to strive to do our best in every area of our life, in deference to our mission to serve Christ:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
As a mother, I have been thinking often about the repetitive cycles of life: school years, seasons, holidays, birthdays, and choir performances. Sometimes, the busyness of life feels like a blur. We do the same things every year, with little variation, and wonder: what is the point of it all? For the Christian, Scripture offers us the answer to that age-old question. We were created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever; to celebrate a relationship with the Creator of the universe (Genesis 1, 1 Samuel 12:24, Matt. 22, etc.).
I don’t know about you, but sometimes, it can be hard to keep our kids motivated when life is so busy and exhausting! Sometimes, my daughter wants to know why we do things: why do we go to school? Why do we have to work? Why do we have to say sorry when we do something wrong?
The WHYs behind the actions matter. Why is it important to finish the school year well? Why should kids give school their best shot, even if they’re not “the best” or the “highest achiever?” Because life is not about accomplishments or material items (Matt. 6:19). It’s about a relationship with Christ. It’s about serving others and living out the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). How we conduct ourselves says a lot about who we are. I try to impress this upon my daughter as she is going through the many feelings and emotions that school brings – friendship struggles, classroom conflicts, testing, sports, and competition. At the end of the day, what matters is her heart, her attitude, and her willingness to be kind to others and to serve them as Christ would.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”
This is the wisdom I hope my daughter holds on to as she finishes each grade, year after year. I hope it’s a message that encourages you, too, as we reach the end of the school year and look forward to the stretch of summertime. Don’t get so busy that you forget to enjoy the small moments with your children, to make space for those important, discipling conversations, and to take some deep breaths before the busyness of the next school washes over you in August.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Col. 3:23-24)
*
Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.
Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.
Download Our New Counter Culture Mom App to get our trending news and pop culture alert notifications. Connect with other parents in the Parent Chat section to gain helpful ideas on how to counteract the Pop Culture Cult!
Be sure to contact us if there is an issue you would like to have us write about! Our mission is to help parents deal with today’s lifestyle trends and how to biblically navigate them.