Why We Should Press On to the End of the School Year

          We all know the feeling. Last day of school. Summer just around the corner. Excitement buzzes in the air as loudly as a swarm of bees. Classes are all utterly unfocused, and the teachers only hope to control the students, not really teach anything. States testing is over, homework is long gone, and everyone's ready for lazy days of sleeping in and doing nothing. Ahhhhh. We're all ready for that day.

          Bad news: it's not that day yet. School isn't over yet, though summer is drawing closer every day. Some states finish school much earlier than other states. Zoë will be done in just a few weeks, but here in Washington state the kids stay in school until almost the middle of June. Wherever you are, though, school is almost over. But not quite yet.

          Now what? What do we do well we wait for summer to finally arrive? Most schools stay extremely focused until states testing is over, and then classes dissolve into little work, little learning, and little teaching. I'm home-schooled, but I know enough public-schooled people to know that this is true. So what should we do between that state-testing time to the last day of school??

          Paul writes us the answer in Colossians 3:23, NIV.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

          God calls us to work at our schoolwork with all our hearts, and this applies even to those almost-summer moments when we don't have much to do. He calls us to a life of not conforming to the ways of the world. At this time of year, other students tend to give up, work halfheartedly, and pay little attention in classes as they wait for summer to arrive. And of course, many classes really don't have much to pay attention to so close to summer. But that doesn't make a difference. We are STILL called to work at our schoolwork, whatever it may be, with ALL our hearts. That is why we must push through and press on to the end of the school year. 

          What happens when we lose motivation to push through to the end?? I'll admit, it can be really challenging to stay focused, motivated, and hardworking when summer draws near. But notice what Paul said in the second half of that verse: "...as working for the Lord, not for human masters." When we lose motivation and focus, we must remember why and for whom we're working. God says not to work for human masters, which includes teachers, parents, and even ourselves. He says instead to work for Him. And when we remember that we're working for the Creator of the Universe, it's a lot easier to work with all our hearts. 

          Now we know what to do during the last few weeks of school as we (often impatiently) await summertime. 1) Work at this remaining schoolwork with all our hearts. 2) We can do this without losing focus or motivation because we are working for God. 

          Therefore, I encourage you to press on, push through, and strive to finish this 2015-2016 school year. Then we can much more fully enjoy summer and all the blessings that arrive with it. 

Elena ♥

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Do you have any tips or or stories to share about pushing through to the end of the school year?? We'd love to hear them!! Comment below, or email us!