Blessings from the most unexpected place... public school...

3 years ago, I was faced with a painful decision... well, there wasn't really much decision to be made.  I found myself at a place where I had no choice but to withdraw my children from a sheltered, small, highly academic private school in order to send them to - *gasp* - public school!  It was a painful experience, yet one that I knew would afford my children additional opportunities.  Despite the growth they would experience, I was terrified that they would be exposed to horrific things.  Children with foul mouths, terrible influences and parents who didn't give a rip. Some of this was part of the package, but to be honest, my assumptions were way off - but what I was most surprised by, is the many blessings we've received through public school:

• Kids are not only permitted, but are encouraged to learn in a variety of situations
• Different learning styles are embraced
• Teachers have a variety of resources and support (okay so this might not be true everywhere, but then there is no one "universal truth" in public school)
• My kids have learned to respect and work with kids from a variety of backgrounds
• The staff are absolutely delightful!  
• We were welcomed with open arms into our children's classrooms and anything we could do to help was appreciated (this was not the case in one of our private school experiences)
• My kids learned to love others - no matter what they look like, how they talk or what skill level they are at.
• My son was challenged to take on responsibilities in leadership - something he never would have imagined doing - and he excelled at it.
• My children have faced bullies , and while this may seem like a hardship, I can already see that my children are stronger for it.  They know the value of compassion for others, and the importance of kindness.  They know "what not to do" to others - so much so that I had to stop myself from interfering to protect my child when she chose to become close friends with the bully in her class - which worked out well.  She took the high road and it paid off and the bully had the opportunity to have a friend, for once
• My children have learned to be grateful for the life they have
• My children have learned to stand firm for what they believe in, but part of that process has included seeing what happens when they don't stand strong... something even Simon Peter experienced
• We have had the opportunity to build relationships with a large circle of people outside of a "holy huddle"
• We have learned to communicate clearly with our children - we ask what they are learning and probe into certain things - and often end up in very engaging family discussions about what they've learned at school and what God's Word says about those matters
• My children are better prepared to face the real world - to go to college where they'll witness people living promiscuous lives, indulging in alcohol, engaging in pornography, and beyond...  And rather than being shielded from reality (as I had originally intended when they were little), they will know that have what it takes to stick to their convictions and walk away from destructive behavior

This list is so small, and in no way complete... but I had to start somewhere.  See, tomorrow is my children's last day at their school.  The last time we will walk onto the campus - a place that has come to represent safety, nurturing and growth - for them and for us as parents.  Tomorrow they end their school year, just weeks before our move - tomorrow, we close the book on this chapter in our lives at this wonderful school.  So even though this post doesn't do it justice, I had to take time out to thank God publicly for the many blessings He has afforded us in the most unexpected circumstances.