Friday June 27th, 2008
Yesterday, Hope got an award.
At Vacation Bible School.
It teetered somewhere between the kind of awards they get in Kindergarten or on the U6 soccer team where everyone gets the same one. No one is singled out. It is the lauding of the mediocre. And between an award actually given for an accomplishment, a rising above the group for something well done.
She got an award for changing her attitude in a situation that wasn’t going her way.
The women at my church who run the VBS have known Hope since she was an infant. They know her propensity for emotional outbursts and wily behavior. What Hope did yesterday was not above the norm for a 6 year old, but it was outside of the regular for her. They recognized this. And they awarded her for it.
Hope got a round of applause from the 70-odd people in the room and received a special science kit as a prize. She also got a dose of self-confidence from being singled out for doing a good job.
Recognition.
I think it is seeing someone how they want to be seen. 
Hope has been working on her “attitude” for a long time. School, gymnastics, riding lessons – these are all hard work and we’ve all been trying to find ways to rein in her tendency to let a bad attitude take over. So for her to stop a bad reaction mid-stride is a big deal for her. She doesn’t want to be known for having a bad attitude. She wants to be seen as agreeable and friendly.
Recognition is the acknowledgement of something in a person that they want to be known for.
Her award recognized (even if unintentional) all of Hope’s hard work and tears over the last year. It might be just enough to push her over the edge of motivation.
I want to recognize the special and unique parts of the personalities of my girls, my husband and what they are trying to accomplish. I want to praise my toddler for staying in her bed during a nap and praise my older daughter for her good attitudes throughout the day. I want to recognize the busy day my husband must leave behind so that he can come home to eat dinner with us.
I want to identify in them the things they want to be known for. I want to really see them.
Yeah Hope!! I’m so proud to be your friend!! You are the best! I miss you.
Love ya,
Annie
(Sarah- obviously, I’m proud to be your friend as well, but being that Hope doesn’t have her own email account, I will just have to comment to her here.)
Yeah for Hope! That’s a great award to get – better than one for running or something like that because it recognizes her heart!
That is a big deal so congrats to Hope!! Sometimes the change we want to see in ourselves in gradual and that recongition WILL help.
Hey Sarah…I hopped over from Cassie’s blog and I’m so glad that I did! What a precious story about your daughter!!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Fran
Very sweet. That is a big deal.
That is wonderful for Hope. It sounds like she is figuring things out as she matures.
Just wanted to let you know that I have been reading this past week. Just haven’t had time to comment!
Your blog is special!
What a blessing to women who know Hope and love her by recognizing and praising her. Wonderful post.
Good Job Hope!!!! I am so proud of you! I love ya. thanks for the video from you guy’s trip. I love it!
Love,
Terry
It’s good that she is learning this at such a young age. I still struggle with this.
Oh, and the great thing about Basset Hounds is that they are so low maintenance. If you want to nap, they nap. If you want to go for a walk, they’ll go. It’s great. Give Hope a few more years and she’ll be able to walk them!
Great job, Hope! Way to go!
I was so struck by the sweetness of the ladies that knew Hope, and recognized her good “deed”. How sweet, and such a blessing to have women in your church who affirm and encourage both you and your daughters that way! That is such a gift! We so need more of that in our church families! Blessings to you all!
okay, i must make sure you know…only 5 out of the 80+ kids at vbs were given this award. very few got this.
if only you could have seen her face as she fought to control herself with the disappointment that came her way…it’s the same face that will steer her towards God’s path and not the world’s later on.
she has her parents’ strength
Hopey, I’m glad that God is working in you!!! I am so proud! I love you!!! Thanks Sarah for sharing.
Yeah!!! Way to go Hope! It is SO great when you have been working on a weakness in your personality and it is recognized. What excellent reinforcement.
Yeah for Hope and for you as parents. It is nice to see your hard work as parents pay off in your child especially in an area they tend to struggle.
It is important to give them that recognition. So cool that woman from your church made a special effort to make sure Hope was recognized, knowing she was working hard in that area. For Hope to be recognized by her peers will be something she remembers forever!
Oh Sarah How your precious Hope sounds like mine. Aren’t they precious and special in their own ways. Good for her to have curbed her behavior in the middle. If I ever get down your way I will spoil her with a huge ice cream! Of Course my Hope will get one too.
I think the Lord leads us mothers to name our special girls Hope. He knows that everybody needs a little hope and we are blessed enough to get to raise our Hopes!