Alex has been at Heritage High School for the past three years and was looking forward to completing her senior year at her beloved school with her friends. She is a student who is loved by her teachers and other staff members; she is kind and loving to underclassmen even taking some under her wing to mentor them; she thrives in her choral program and is a blessing to her choir teacher keeping her classroom organized and working with younger singers to help teach them; she was about to launch into the theater program and get her feet wet in the world of drama.
But all this came to a screeching halt September 18th. We had moved outside of Heritage's district, which is a highly coveted district in this area. She was told she could stay for her senior year, but only if we paid tuition. We were very willing to do so, but the cost would be $4500 and had to be paid in full that week. Alex's principal and counselors fought for her in front of the school board and superintendent to allow us an extension to pay the exuberant fee, but they denied that request, so she had to leave her beloved school and all her hopes and dreams for her senior year behind. It was kind of like running full force into a glass wall and hearing the glass shatter around you. She was absolutely broken.
God, in His infinite wisdom and care for His children, was not caught by surprise at this turn of events. Remember her last day was on September 18? Well, on September 19th was the mandatory meeting for seniors and their families to graduate with our Christian homeschool association, Lighthouse. They were so full of grace to allow her in to graduate with them and made her instantly feel a part of their group. Perfect timing!
We have been focusing on all the good things about this transition, even though it wasn't her first choice. God's ways are higher and better and He wants nothing but GOOD for us! Even in the times when it doesn't feel so good. Alex is finally at peace with the situation and knows it is all for God's glory, even though some days are still hard. We are battling isolation at this point as she feels alone most days because she is a highly social person! But her choral teacher has allowed her to come visit her frequently at school and is allowing her some benefits of still feeling a part of her choir program.
Through this trial, as He always does, God is drawing Alex closer and closer to Him. In church a few weeks ago we sang an old hymn modernized by Chris Tomlin, "All the Way My Savior Leads". I watched Alex stand there with tears streaming down her face as she felt the absolute love of her Father in the words of that old hymn written by Fanny Crosby in 1875. God's love reaches through the generations!
"All the way my savior leads me, what have I to ask beside?
How could I doubt his tender mercy? Who through life has been my guide.
All the way my savior leads me, and cheers each winding path I tread?
Gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread.
You lead me. And keep me from falling.
You carry me close to your heart.
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me." ~Chris Tomlin's version of the hymn
This song comes to mind almost daily as I pray for my daughter and for God to continue to work His goodness in her life. A sweet friend of mine who frequently checks on Alex (even though she's never even met her) sent me a message today with the words of this hymn and told me to listen to it.
Now if that's not GOODNESS and MERCY then I don't know what is. God is real. God speaks when you open your heart to listen. He cares about every little detail of our lives.
My daughter won't have the senior year she was anticipating, but God has something so much better in store for her. I'm so excited that I have ringside seats this year to watch it unfold! And as my small group leader Bill Lewis said in his teaching of Psalm 23...our sheepdogs, Goodness and Mercy, will be following us all the days of our lives.
