Greetings dear sweet children of God,
When Rachel was in sixth grade something exciting happened: She had perfect attendance for the entire year! This means that every single time the roll was called Rachel answered, "Here." Nothing, not even mild fevers and dirty uniforms, was going to stop my baby from achieving perfect attendance.
At the end of the year she received her fourth Certificate of Perfect Attendance - these certificates were handed out quarterly - duly signed by the principal and her teacher, and surely Miss Rayray felt the kind of satisfaction that only a child with perfect attendance can feel, which is...??? I don't know; I never had perfect attendance.
I am not knocking this accomplishment. Rachel had to put forth quite the effort to achieve it, and so did I. Did I mention that part of the qualification was that you couldn't have any tardies?
However, 16 years later I must ask myself if it was worth it? Perhaps. After all answering, "Here!" every day at school is a great goal. Who knows if that pre-teen undertaking of utmost commitment is what encouraged Rachel to be the law-abiding responsible citizen she is today.
But there's an even greater goal when it comes to roll calls, and it's neatly summarized in the lyric of one of my favorite Spanish hymns, "Cuando Alla Se Pase Lista a Mi Nombre Yo Feliz Respondere." Translation: When the roll is called up yonder I will happily respond when my name is called.
In other words, and to answer the question in the verse above, nothing, not perfect attendance in the sixth grade or fill in the blank with your own goal, is worth more than our soul - more valuable than answering, 'Here!" in heaven.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You put our life in perspective. Yes, it is important to have goals, but only as long as our number one priority is our own soul. One day we will all happily respond to our name when You call it out in glory. In Jesus' name, Amen!
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