I started with the best of intentions, honest I did. I would spend the year observing people respond to each other with grace and share my observance with you. I would also let them know how much their actions meant to the world. People are so often told when they have irritated or hurt someone and so seldom told when they made another person happy. But shortly after starting this blog I was moved to full time at work, something I wanted, and I became serious about karate, trying to go three times a week. It is amazing how many things are scheduled at the same time as karate classes. So I dropped the blog and, with no new posts online, I stopped giving out the thank you cards to people I saw acting with grace. But I never gave up on the project.
Over the past several months I have become accustomed to seeing how often people reach out to help their fellow mortals. I have made a concerted effort to tell people that I appreciate it when they do something kind for me or someone I know. The project has been a great success in changing my view of the world, which was the main goal. The blog and cards were simply my motivation to keep doing it.
However, recently I have been the recipient of so much grace from so many directions that I feel compelled to share my gratitude. After a difficult eighth grade, my daughter opted to be home schooled for high school. We have always been active in our children's education, if not always their schooling, so to a great extent my family is prepared for this change. I have found resources both on-line and in the community to meet her academic and social needs in most areas. My husband and I are customizing a social studies curriculum to her interests and life goals. The one area left open was English. I am by no means confident in my ability to provide high quality instruction at a high school level to a child who is gaining a reputation in the fan fiction community and is interested in writing songs.
Fortunately, I am blessed to be surrounded by four people who are more than up to the job. Even more fortunately, they have all offered to help. So instead of relying on my limited knowledge my daughter's English teachers will include two college professors, one of whom has a music background and an MFA in poetry, the driving force behind a literary magazine written by and for teens, and a MA in English with experience tutoring at-risk youth. That doesn't let me off the hook. It just means that I will not be on my own through what for me would be the most difficult part of this endeavor. And for that I am grateful.
Now, if only I can schedule in sleep, everything will be perfect.
