Strangely enough, I can still remember asking my mom the question when I was all of 7-years-old:
“Mommy, can I have a report card like the kids at school?”
I can still remember her smile. Her looking down at me. Her reply: “Honey, you are doing great. You work hard, you have a great attitude, and you’re learning lots. I’m so pleased with you. Why do you want a report card?”
Why did I want a report card? I don’t know. I was homeschooled. I didn’t have to have one. But I remember her kindly humoring me and taking a sheet of paper, writing my name, and making a list of A’s down the side with categories such as “cares for others,” “works hard,” and “listens well.” I clutched the hand-written report and beamed.
Now I have to chuckle and shake my head at this story. Partly because I still find myself 25 years later walking around the world and looking for a report card. Please? Or, worse–seeing everything in the world as one giant report card. Each day ends with a giant letter grade scribbled across the page of my life. Have you ever been there?
Sometimes it’s my kids. If we have a smooth day with cheerful attitudes or they sit quietly in church, I have an A. If they’re particularly sour or we had an incident at the store, I’m down to a D- and wish I weren’t even in the class.
Sometimes it’s my husband. Even though my man is awesome, way too often I have believed the lie that if he’s struggling it’s because I’ve somehow failed on my end. Haven’t submitted enough or been joyful enough or haven’t given him enough lovin’. No matter what the issue is, surely his struggle must indicate my failure. It’s just another unfortunate report card.
Sometimes it’s my writing. Can I just be brutally honest and say that sometimes I hate all the tweets and pins and shares? Can I just say that sometimes, just sometimes, Facebook “likes” can feel like a giant report card? Sometimes, when my eyes are not on Jesus or my heart is in a bad space, it can feel like daily standing naked before an audience and watching a thousand thumbs point up or down. Is it any wonder writer’s block plagues us at times?
Sometimes it’s ministry, friendships, the state of my house or the number on the scale or a whole host of other ridiculous “whatevers” that that particular day might hold. Anything can be taken by the enemy and folded into a nice paper report card, by which my happiness can come …
… and go.
The truth is, whatever the report card of the day might say, if we look to it to find our worth we are well on our way to misery.
The truth is, the world is not your report card.
The truth is, some days your kids are angels and some days they are … something else. Some days your man will be flourishing and some days he will struggle too … just like you. Some days you will be celebrated and some days you will be forgotten.
Just like Jesus.
His children misbehave sometimes. His Bride struggles often. His Word usually isn’t “liked” much at all.
What does that mean?
It means we must remember that our report card was a list of F’s for every category. But there is now, written in His blood, the name JESUS printed across the top, cancelling out every debt, every failure, every shortcoming.
We no longer need a report card. Jesus Christ nailed ours to the cross and told us, once and for all, we are accepted and beloved in Him. My mom’s words, “I”m so pleased with you. Why do you need a report card?”
You’re right, Mom.
I don’t.
~
{Because Jesus is enough and His blood covers it all. Be free today from the shackles of a report-card existence. I pray blessing for you today … thanks for reading}
20 thoughts on “Because the world isn't your report card…”
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Wonderful, Kari. Thank you, as always, for sharing. 🙂
Great job girlie!! Thanks for your insight! I hate report cards!!!
Let’s ban them. 🙂
Great reminder that our audience is God. What really matters is who He aays we are. 🙂 Sending love to you today.
Amen, sister!
Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Is it okay if I give this a GIANT THUMBS UP? What a good reminder for today. You hit the nail right on the head! Thank you, Kari!
(And thanks for your brutal honesty, and for always pushing the “publish” button. It’s not easy to share some things! I know this for a fact, because I wanted to go hide in my bed the day my “Pain” post was up here on SM. Why??? I don’t know! But I was freaked! Thanks for never hiding from the hard things, friend). 🙂
Oh yeah … by far it’s the writing one that’s the hardest. The relational ones aren’t as much of a struggle, and the writing one got way harder since trying to publish. (“But the publishers need to see that people actually read this thing!”) UGH. Anyway, so glad we can help each other and be freed from report-card existence. Love you sister!
I definitely needed this today… although it’s sometimes still so hard to believe it.
Kari, this totally resonates with me! If my daughter obeys, my house is clean, the dogs aren’t making messes, and I have all the answers at work, I get an A! If everything fails to meet my expectations, I get an F. Jesus died so that the grades don’t Even come into the picture! His GRACE is sufficient! Praise Him! Thanks for the blessing of this post!
So glad you can relate, girl. We’re growing, we’re getting it, He’s changing us! Praise Him. Blessings..
so right on and now your mom has water coming out of her eyes… love you papa
Ah Kari, what a breath of fresh air! I am realizing more and more that anything I “do” in my life that is worthy of praise (A) is only because of Christ in me and in His grace He allows me to be His vessel through the ups…and downs. I think the Lord even uses those who criticize or belittle us as vessels to keep us humble and fully reliant upon Him. EVERYTHING is within His reach to be used for His glory and He is so mighty all the glory to God!
“It means we must remember that our report card was a list of F’s for every category. But there is now, written in His blood, the name JESUS printed across the top, cancelling out every debt, every failure, every shortcoming.”
Amen. I have nothing else just…as my little girl would say (with a sage nod after we’ve read and closed our Bibles), “True.”
Ha I don’t think I ever asked my mom to write me a report card. I’m surprised considering the way I consistently keep one in my mind. Thanks for helping me stay focused- slipping into that mindset is so easy.
AMEN!! My favorite post you’ve ever written!! And I’m not grading it, just rejoicing in the “annointedness” of it! 🙂 Love it, and thank you for sharing it!! I needed it today. Hugs.
Thank you for this Kari! It’s too easy to lay down at the end of the day and give myself letter grades for each category of my life.
“It means we must remember that our report card was a list of F’s for every category. But there is now, written in His blood, the name JESUS printed across the top, cancelling out every debt, every failure, every shortcoming.”
Water to my weary soul! Bless you sister!!
Uh-huh! (Another word for “amen” 😉 !)
I was homeschooled too, but not before I’d been in public school for several years, where I learned all about report cards. I’m thinking (at least in my case!) that the need for a report card is partially, if not entirely, pride-driven. I’m better than so-and-so, who only earned a B, because I have an A. Or the flip-side, if I scored lower than someone else. Not only does this reveal my yucky sinful prideful self, but it also takes all the true joy out of the learning process! Just writing, or reading, or discovering new things–or raising my children–for the joy of being able to do so.
I’m also a teacher, so this strikes close to home for me. My students sometimes get frustrated with me, but I often leave their work ungraded for this very reason!! I want them to focus on what they’re learning, not on my evaluation of their performance in terms of some arbitrary letter grade!
Anyway, I digress. The point I meant to make was, YES! Thanks for posting 🙂
Thanks as always for the great reminders!!!
I really appreciate you Kari! Your words speak to my heart every time I read something you’ve wrote. Thank you for allowing God to use you and touch so many women’s lives with your words!
Chelsea
Thank you so much, Chelsea, for encouraging me. Bless you, girl!