Progress

James 1: 3, 4

"...because you know that the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

This week I was reminded of progress.  As our middle schooler, Hopie jumped out of the van to walk into school, Greg called out his irksome (or should it be pesky) comments to her.  You know the typical Daddy remarks, “Don’t smile…” or “Be a sweet girl today…” or “Remember you are daddy’s girl.”

As she walked into the doors of her school, I asked Greg, “Can you believe it?”  I went on to say, when did we think Hope would ever get dressed

without yanking on her collar, her socks and her waistband?  When did we think she would ever brush her hair or teeth on her own? When did we think she wouldn’t fuss about the color of her glass or the amount of milk in her cereal?

You see our Hopie has her own “style.”  Her own learning style.  Her own social style.  She is as complex as she is precious to us.  We have had such a struggle to parent her.  She hears what we are saying, but often misunderstands.  She has a hard time with defining words, understanding words, relating words.  Academics are a challenge and a mystery.  Hope is literal and concrete in her thinking.

Hope also struggles with sensory perception. Food has to have a certain texture, color and odor.  Clothes have to feel soft and not restrictive.  Hope detects sounds others can’t. Yet at other times, you can’t have music or functions too loud.

You are welcomed to read through the lines of what I am trying to communicate, right?  Life has been hard.  Hard on our baby.  Hard on our older children, and hard on us as parents.

Our God is faithful.  I will trust Him.  It has been a long road (and we are so far from finishing.)  But we watch progress.  Actually, we are amazed by this progress.  No it isn’t just growing up, it isn’t just becoming more mature.  It is our amazing God, doing what we (or she) are unable to do on our own.

As she jumped out of the van, I realized how God has grown her.  No her classwork wouldn’t come easy that day, but her determination is unstoppable.  Her clothes were put on without having the collar stretched big enough for the entire family to fit through at once.  Her waffles had been eaten without the need for them to be stacked and cut at perfect 90 degree angles.  She walked in like all the other children.

Although, Hope doesn’t recognize the progress, I could see from her profile a silly grin acknowledging her Daddy’s comment and I believe deep down a sense of accomplishment to be dressed and in school. One day we will try to explain to Hope what makes her special, but in the interim we can encourage her to embrace a God that makes progress for her everyday!