I work in a school system and that is quite enjoyable at times. I wanted to make note of one of these times today.

Our Title 1 Office puts out a newsletter every month and their latest edition has the encouraging story of a fifth grade student that has overcome great challenges in her life. She was born premature with one functioning kidney and possible brain development issues. Her mother passed away when she was 3. Her father raised her as best he could (despite sever rhuematoid arthritis), but he also passed away two years later. Moving in with her grandmother, she began a new journey.

The article points out that she missed oportunities like Head Start, pre-school, and the like. It wasn’t that they weren’t available, it was that her family circumstances didn’t allow it to happen. In any case, she and her grandmother worked hard to overcome these obstacles.

What struck me was that she was unassuming, yet hopes to be a lawyer. She is aware of what she’s been through without claiming to be a victim of anything. It reminds me of Jesus’ words to become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It also serves as a challenge to Americans like me that can so easily become ‘victims’ of one circumstance or another instead of overcomers. Jesus also spoke in Revelation about those that overcome – granted the context is different, but it makes me think of it all the same. The crown goes to the overcomer, I guess the lawyers’ fees go to the victim.

I’m glad that the school system chooses to recognize those that overcome so much. It welcome news on a Thursday when my thoughts tend to focus on “things below” instead of focusing on things above.