I have spent all week doing only two things. Recovering from food poisoning, with long lasting and painful accompanying symptoms, migraines especially, and somehow driving back and forth from my kids school, sometimes as late as ten p.m. The reason behind these late nights, Drama!!!! These poor kids have been staying at school from 3:15 until ? just to prepare for this years production, "Give And Take". While I have no idea how Colette and I have managed to drive so many hours at all hours dropping off kids during this time, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I also had to be there at 5:30 last night for a 7:00 curtain, and was stationed backstage where it was my job to help actors get in and out of costume in a timely, orderly fashion. They couldn't have done a better job!
The play emphasized to me the reason my kids attend a private Christian school in an area where the public schools have such an amazing reputation. I never began parenting with the thought of sending them anywhere but what our boundaries dictated, and I love the public school system and have great faith in it. Call me naive, but I worked for it in L.A., and a more dedicated group of people I have yet to meet.
So what was the play about? Giving. Taking. Consequences of both. No amazing musical numbers, no expensive costumes or props. Just the kids, using the resources available to them, telling tales of giving and taking. Tales of selfish greed and selfless sacrifice, each demonstrating that whatever type of person you choose to be, others will be affected for better or worse. The sad-est tale, "The Crane Wife", from Russia, told of how a Crane selflessly weaved her feathers into beautiful fabric for her greedy husband to sell, until she could no longer retain the strength to maintain her human form and flew away bare and bleeding. In a Native American tale, an orphaned girl burns the only possession she has of her long lost family, a handmade doll,and scatters the ashes over the barren land to bring rain. Though sad, she goes from being known as "The One Who Stands Alone" to "She Who Loves Her People". There were a few others, mimed, funny, danced out. All in all, for just a group of kids on a bare stage with few props it was astounding.
This is why. These tales, which emphasize the importance of sacrifice, illustrate the reason. This is why I pay when I can't really afford it, drive everyday while I watch the school bus come through my neighborhood, push a trashcan around when I could be watching General Hospital. Christ is woven throughout every element of my daughters days. They are moving through their routines, going to Bible class, having morning worship, attending Chapel, putting on plays, studying other cultures in relationship to our Creator without even comprehending they are being educated in a different way. They grumble and complain, just like kids everywhere, but everything they are learning is framed in Christ's love, His sacrifice. That is why. I adore my kids more than anything , and giving them this Christian education by osmosis is by far the best thing I've ever done for them
Was wondering where you were? Food poisoning is not fun. Am so glad that you got your girls in a school that meets their needs-academically, spiritually and socially. That is not easy to do.
Posted by: Patti | April 01, 2006 at 02:52 PM
Happy Birthday, dear sister!!!!
I hope you are feeling so much better and may God bless you with a joyfull, happy and love-filled day.
God's Grace.
Posted by: corry | April 01, 2006 at 04:07 PM
This kind of investment pays off long after we're gone. ;-)
I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!
Posted by: Kc | April 02, 2006 at 10:39 AM