So, as you can see from the posters (that she came up with and made with only a little of my help!! She was the master mind - with a little help from the internet! I was so impressed) she ran for student council president, something she has dreamed about since 5th grade. Literally. She has been on student council every year, and since 5th grade she has wanted/hoped to be president one day. Well, as election time approached, she had decided she would run for something else, because she REALLY wanted to be an officer, any officer, and she thought she'd have a better chance of getting elected at another position (based on who was running where). She knows she's not in the popular crowd, and so OK with that and comfortable in her skin... she was just, in her mind, being realistic. Then at some point they had an informational meeting and she learned that the election was not solely based on popular vote... that teacher recs and student council officers/leaders both played into the final decision. She thought she understood that popular vote was only 1/3, so she decided to take her chances and run for president. I was so proud of her for deciding to go for what she really wanted, knowing she'd be OK if she didn't get it. A couple of weeks before the vote, she shared with me that she'd started getting a little anxious abou the election, and then she realized something. If it was God's plan for her to be president, it wouldn't matter WHO she was running against, and if wasn't His plan, that means He has something else for her. She said that made her able to relax and enjoy the process. Sure enough, it came down to the popular vote (which was about 50% not 1/3 of the criteria), and the with 1 boy and 5 girls running, it doesn't take rocket science to predict the winner. Still, Maddie was disappointed... but not devasted. She told me that next morning as we talked it through some more (acknowledging that it's perfectly normal to be disappointed) that she trusted that God had a plan. Then a few days later, I was talking to the mom of a friend of hers, and she told me at the end of our conversation,"By the way, I just have to tell you what a mature yound lady that Maddie is. She was encouraging my daughter (who also 'lost' the election) by saying that if God closed that door, He had another one to open for them, something He has planned especially for them to do.." She was so impressed by Maddie's poise in the face of disappointment, calling her an old soul with wisdom beyond her years. My mommy pride (and gratefulness to God) swelled. I was sad for her becasue I knew how much she wanted it, but I know sometimes the most growth comes through what we DON'T get.
Time to go for now...
Next time, #2 and beyon...
