Blessed are the Peacemakers

A few weeks ago, we received a letter. It said that Ella had been nominated for a Peacemaking Award. Since we are just beginning this adventure into public education (Ella is just a kindergartner), we really didn't know what that meant. But the letter explained that 250 students in the district were to receive this award and that we were invited to a ceremony at the end of March. We also got a copy of what Mrs. Bowen (who had nominated Ella) had said about her. It was awesome. Here is a part of what Mrs. Bowen wrote:

Ella demonstrates peacemaking skills by standing up for what is important and leading by example. Ella knows that standing up for her friends and helping others when they are in need are important traits. When someone is treating a student poorly, she is the first one to help her friends deal with the conflict.

Wow.

I cried. How incredible that this little girl is already so clearly reflecting Jesus that Mrs. Bowen can see it in her everyday interactions with her peers. Awesome.

And well sometimes public education does not support our beliefs (or a lot of times), this award gave us such a concrete opportunity to really encourage Ella to be who Jesus has created her to be and to continue to let His light shine through her. I love those moments!

At the ceremony, the president of the board of education explained how much he like the peacemaking awards because it was an opportunity not to award academic achievement or sports achievement but achievement in character. Wow.

The ceremony was very much graduation-like and Ella received her award from the superintendent and shook all the school board members hands. Check out a few pics from the event. I am so proud of her. I just had to share.



Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9