Bethany is 12 today.  She has turned a corner, I think, this past year.  There are many of the old struggles still – with work ethic, and attentiveness, and day-dreaminess – but her attitude has come so far.  Most days, she is sweet and encouraging and kind.  Her hard-headedness has made way for a more teachable spirit, a greater humility, a new willingness to ask questions and admit when she doesn’t know it all.

A recent event really encapsulated a lot of the character traits I see in Bethany.  It was during a belt test for Tae Kwon Do.  All of the students were to demonstrate a set of moves at the same time, but not necessarily in sync with each other.  Bethany got flustered – distracted by the others around her who were all at slightly different spots in their demonstrations – and she flailed, never fully recovering.

The sensei then singled her out to go through the whole routine again, on her own, in front of everyone else.  I could tell from her face that she was fighting back tears, and I felt scared for her…knowing how difficult I would have found the situation.  But she didn’t falter.  She demonstrated the moves flawlessly – like, better than I’ve ever seen her do anything else in Tae Kwon Do.  See, for as flighty, and easily distracted, and, sometimes, not-so-serious as Bethany can be, she also has an incredible memory, a not-easily-shaken confidence, and a fierce determination that allows her to rise to the challenges of life, rather than be ruined by them.

I was so proud of her.  I am so proud of her.  And I am so thankful that God is working good things in her – even despite what I am often sure is utter failure on my part.  Bethany is a joy and a treasure, beautiful inside and out.  I’m so happy she’s mine.