Jenna's Time to Shine

It’s been busy around here the last couple of weeks. We are truly in that final push to get everything in before summer break. Ben also had the opportunity to take a school trip to Boston this past weekend. He had a wonderful time, however, I’m going to save that for my next writing. Right now it is Jenna’s time to shine so I’m going to devote this edition to her.

First of all, Jenna has officially been named the valedictorian of her class. She has worked hard for it and I am glad to say had some strong competition for the spot. She follows in the footsteps of her grandmother on that one. We’re proud of her.

The other big news is that she has officially decided to attend Trevecca University. Since some big scholarships did not come her way we had begun to feel the opportunity for Trevecca simply wasn’t there. We knew these big scholarships were a long shot and are still honored that Jenna was invited to apply for these opportunities in the first place. Still, the clock was counting down to the day she would need to make a decision so she was moving forward with Tennessee Tech. Slowly some smaller scholarships began to come her way and on the night of Jenna’s 18th birthday Trevecca’s financial aid office called her with an updated package that turned the tide. It couldn’t have been a better birthday present.

I must say I have admired Jenna’s attitude these last few months. Whenever she was informed that she did not receive a scholarship she simply said that God had those things in mind for other people and that it was good with her. As she moved forward with Tennessee Tech she was completely at peace with her second choice school.

I write all of this to explore how I felt through all of this. Several years ago a coworker of mine was visiting colleges with her daughter. None of the colleges they visited seemed to be a fit. On a whim they went to Union University. The daughter knew from the beginning that this was the place she needed to be. My coworker knew this to be true as well but also knew it was not financially possible. She shared this with me after their visit and I told her that if Union truly was where God wanted her daughter to be all the resources would be in place in time for it to happen.

Now I do not espouse a “name it and claim it” theology, but I do believe that after much prayer if you feel God is leading you to go a certain direction you should pursue that direction even if it seems impossible. I felt this was the case for my coworker then or I never would have advised her to stay calm, pray, trust God, and push forward. They did and we watched miracles happen as all the barriers blocking the way to Union seemed to disappear, if at the last possible minute.

You see, all this was very much on my mind when the boys and I met Vicki and Jenna for supper last September after they had visited Trevecca. I was watching the same scenario begin for my own daughter. I knew then I was going to have to practice what I had preached and it would not be easy. The truth of the matter is that it is hard to continue to pray with confidence months later when the rejections come and you’re second guessing yourself. It is so easy for doubt to make you feel you misread the situation and give up. It seems faithless to advise your daughter to have a backup plan. I felt shallow for not meeting Jenna’s scholarship rejections with the same poise on the inside that Jenna exhibited to us.

It is Jenna’s time to shine and I am proud of her. It is also time for me to praise God who answers prayers from people with imperfect faith. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

Joe