Friday, September 12, 2008

Sure Is a Good Thing...

Blondechick15 has had a rude awakening.

At school the other day, she discovered that she was the only one in her history class whose parents weren't planning to vote for Obama.

She also learned that "BC" on a timeline means not "Before Christ" but "Before Common Era." Everyone else in the class already knew that.

On a poster, as an example of "a firmly-held belief," her English teacher listed "karma."

On a persuasive essay assignment, she found herself the sole opponent of legalized abortion.

To her great surprise, she was the only one, in a small group that was brainstorming controversial topics, who thought that same-sex marriage was not okay.

I guess we're not in DuPage County anymore!

How did she respond to these situations? By standing her ground, in each case.

"It's a good thing I have a strong personality," she remarked.

(If our conversation hadn't been so serious, I'd have choked on my Dr. Pepper at that understatement!)

After she told me more details, I pointed out to her that God had prepared her with not only a strong temperament, but He had also planted the seeds of her convictions by her life experiences. For example, how many girls her age have been present at a birth, as she has witnessed, twice? She remembers my pregnancies and feeling the babies move and kick; she knows how much one can love a baby even before one can sense its presence physically. And she knows men and women who have been healed of their neuroses, who have married and had children and know the joy of a healthy family.

"Have you had any doubts?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Has it crossed your mind that maybe all those other kids are right and your parents are wrong?"

"No way!" she snorted, without hesitation.

"Really?" I queried.

"Mom, I just know that abortion is killing a human being, and same-sex marriage is not right. It's so obvious."

After a moment, she added, "And they know it too, deep down. They're just not willing to say it."

Thank you, Lord, for the hard-headed, "strong personality" you have given our daughter. May her faith, her convictions, and her perseverance be strengthened by adversity. May You be glorified by her witness. Preserve and protect her, in your love and by your great mercy, O Lord.

9 comments:

ElanorLayne said...

I am so proud of her! Way to go girlie!

Heather said...

Amen! I wish that I had held onto my convictions so firmly when I was her age.

Linds said...

I am so proud of her too, and you must be overjoyed to see how she is standing up for her beliefs!

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful story. Hope my daughters will stand their ground like that if the need ever arises! This is good food for prayer as well as thought. And one would think of your new location as not being so far removed from and different from your old one!

Amy said...

How proud you must be -- and isn't it so amazing how a personality trait that seems like such an annoyance at times can actually be the thing that carries one to great success in life? Thank God for His all-knowing wisdom!

amy

At A Hen's Pace said...

Everyone--

Yes, I am thrilled--and grateful to God. I honestly wasn't sure how well she'd be able to stand up under that kind of pressure. I just pray that she can remain strong as the school year wears on!

~Jeanne

truevyne said...

It's my son's first year in public high school after 8 years of homeschooling. He explained to me that his new friend's mother lives with a man, he must work at Arby's to pay his mom $30 a week rent/gas, and he doesn't have time for homework so he often fails. Also, he's called to ask permission to give money to other people at lunch who wouldn't have eaten otherwise.

As a result, he's oozing gratitude for our family. When I study vocab or look over a paper
with him, I often think of his classmates whose parents don't have time for such thing.

It is a new world for my son as well.

Headmistress, zookeeper said...

Good for her!! I am very impressed. May be she continue to be a bright shining light for life and truth!

Hen Jen said...

just wow Hen! You have some great kids!

I remember being the only one in high school classes, too. It's not a fun place to be.