Celebrating the Struggle

Learning isn’t easy. It implies that there is something unknown that needs to be discovered, grappled with, and applied for true understanding. We often want learning to be easy for our children…but maybe we should be comfortable with (and even aim for some) struggle instead.

I was an “A” student growing up. Most things came easily to me….until Dr. Hurley in college. I was shocked by my first C. Indignant. Outraged. But you know what? I deserved that C. I was not reading the assigned work because I could always get by without reading before Dr. Hurley’s class. When I finally decided to buckle down and start reading, it took tremendous discipline and struggle to create new habits.

Just today, I heard about research suggesting that “C students” often become some of the most successful people later in life. Why? Because they learn young how to struggle and how to persevere through difficulty. Essentially, they learn how to learn and their character is developed through the difficulties they choose to tackle. I am grateful for Dr. Hurley and the struggle he invited me to embrace. It opened new worlds to me-- worlds I would not have discovered if school had remained easy.

I encourage us to celebrate the struggle of learning and help students to strive for and recognize the “aha” moments when they “get it.” God created us to be learners throughout our entire lives. He made it innately joyful to discover something new, especially when we have to work hard to get that knowledge. Learning is a reflection of God’s nature in us and in our children.

Is learning difficult for your child? Take heart and help them grow in character through their perseverance. Stand firm in the promise that God has good plans for your child and He will bring them to pass.

Is learning easy for your child? Find ways in your conversations and experiences to help your child focus on a new area of learning and challenge him to struggle with something hard. It will serve them well.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4