Caution: Determination at Work (Day 19)

Maybe this post should be titled "Caution:  I'm Feeling Very Wordy Today".  Consider permission granted to look at the picture and move on to more important things in your life.  Like watching paint dry.

We use a curriculum at church called 252 Basics.  It is a scriptural, high-energy program distributed by the Rethink Group.  Each month the elementary students study one virtue that translates into Christ-like living.  For example, this month's virtue has been "Determination".  When I began thinking about how I would capture 365 photographs of my life this year, I decided to keep in mind each month's virtue.  I would look for ways that the virtue showed up in our family's daily routine.
Some days have been a stretch...
Some days my subjects have not been on topic...
(Maybe I should be determined to stop using "..." so much, but I just love them...)

That being said, I felt like this photograph captured the definition of determination more than any I have taken.

Determination:  deciding it's worth it to finish what you've started.

Snow has reaked havoc on our schools this January.  Once you add in the sickness in our family this week, it means that Sam has yet to attend his first two classes of this semester.  These classes just happen to be Biology and Geometery.  However, his geometery teacher is one of my best friends.  She was kind enough to bring his materials by yesterday afternoon and walk him through what he has missed.  (I love that woman!)  I was struck by Sam's determination to stay caught up.  No, I was PROUD of his determination to stay caught up.

You see, several years ago Sam was diagnosed with a severe convergence disorder that greatly effects his ability to process information visually.  In the years leading up to this diagnosis and even following, school has been a struggle.  There have been many times that I have questioned God's wisdom in allowing this impairment. 

Then I saw this moment last evening.  God reminded me of our determination focus this past Sunday.  We read Paul's words to the church in Corinth:

     The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful.  He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Thank you, little blog and photography project, for reminding me to slow down and see God at work in my life's moments.  Thank you, blog friends, for your encouragment.  I pray that this project is more than another "to do" on our endless lists.  Instead, I pray that it inspires you to see your life from God's perspective.

Bless you for listening,

Jennifer