Giving God the Credit

     Although we are engaged in a minor battle right now, the Lord has caused it to be faith-building rather than torturous.  Here's what he has done, so far:

      At 2 p.m. on Tuesday (college decision deadline day), The King's College registrar requested a great deal of additional documentation regarding the transfer of John's credits from Patrick Henry College.  I had to keep praying and preaching to myself that the Lord had ordained these circumstances -- He could have made it go easily, and He said that this was a better way. I knew that we would just have to put our heads down and push to get all the documentation King's wanted as quickly as possible and pray that Patrick Henry  would be willing to hold John Jr.'s spot until we could make an educated decision. I've been reading a book to the Stone kids, "The Door in the Wall," and one of the themes is that when obstacles block you in like an immovable wall, press on until you come to the door -- there's always a door. We know God's character, and He didn't put the obstacles there to torture us but to benefit us.

      Here is what the Lord did as we pressed on: He gave us favor with the Patrick Henry admissions counselor, who said we could take a few extra days, and he added some encouraging words about our son. He showed us the grace of Christ when we most needed it.


       Then we had to make phone calls to his Patrick Henry professors. Again, the ones I talked to were so helpful, cooperative, godly and so clearly FOR the students they were teaching. I was so thankful to know there are professors out there who care deeply and have an urgency to help the next generation to think biblically and to see clearly through the modern and postmodern haze.  I also got to hear some more encouraging words about our boy.

     In reviewing John Jr.'s courses and thinking about the content, I also began to realize that the Lord has put together a unique and excellent educational program for him. Who gets to have so much of Patrick Henry and then possibly so much of King's on top of that?   Whether it is tabulated as "credit" or not, no one can take away the wisdom and knowledge that he has gained in these courses. And so what if he graduates with more than the required 120 credits?  How blessed to have had the opportunity to learn more, rather than just the normal amount! We have always said that we are first and foremost about ensuring that our kids get a good education, as we define that before God -- not with just jumping through hoops to earn a degree. Both of our kids earned way more high school credits than were required, and I never thought that was a waste. 

     At the end of the day Tuesday, John Jr. had tracked down a lot of the information that we needed and we had been able to contact most of the professors from whom we needed documentation -- only God could have gotten us to that point so quickly!  We still lacked a couple of items, but we were much farther along than ever seemed possible when we first looked at that form. 

   

     As we sat and talked as a family that night, it began to dawn on me:  We really do think that King's is the better fit for John Jr., even if he has to return to the same living situation he was in before. With Leah there, it just makes sense for him to go there. This trial clarified our minds about the choice. Another blessing.

     And, finally, my husband and my son have both  praised me several times for handling this.  John Jr. has thanked me many times over.  And I have to admit: their praise and thanks blesses me so much -- I want to serve my family well and have them feel taken care of.  But I want to be very careful not to start thinking it rests on me.  I know how powerless I am in this situation.  All I can do is press on, pray and trust that God has a plan that will be for the good of my family and my son.

       "To you the helpless commits himself." (Psalm 10:14)