Lessons Learned from the Science Fair

Every year my family is tormented by the same affliction: Science Fair. Our children have to come up with an idea, develop a hypothesis, plan some sort of experiment, conduct the experiment, then create a report that is then glued to a set of cardboard panels. No matter which teacher was in charge, any instructions that were given regarding the project were ambiguous and incomplete. Every year my children's projects have received deductions for missing an item that was supposed to be included, or including an item that was supposed to be excluded. Because we have never been able to be clear about what is expected in a science project, we have never placed any pressure on our children to conduct anything but the most hum-drum experiments. They are to respect their teacher and complete the assignment, but we sincerely don't care what grade they get. In our family, we have insisted our children do the project themselves with minimal help from their parents. Of course, when they turn them in and they are lined up along other kid's projects, it is obvious that not all families have the same guidelines. I have actually had parents tell me how they worked all night to get their kid's project done! As a result, no one in my family enjoys these science projects. Until this year, that is!

My son conducted an experiment that had something to do with the heat transfer rates of different metals. Definitely my husband's area of expertise, but something I can't even offer the most minimal of advice about. My two men worked together to conduct the experiment safely (it required the use of a torch, or some kind of fire-producing device), but our son planned the experiment and put together his project pretty much on his own. He turned it in and forgot about it. Then his project was awarded a third place ribbon and he was sent to compete at the county level. Well! NOW this science fair thing was getting interesting.

When he competed at the county level, he was given no medal, not even an honorable mention. We were supportive of him, but could sense his disappointment. At the end of the awards ceremony they asked everyone to wait because some professional organizations had some special recognitions to present. Although the academics judging my son's project didn't believe it was worthy of recognition, a professional engineering organization did. He was given a great certificate and a $100 gift certificate to our local book store!

My son was proud of that certificate and the recognition those engineers bestowed upon him far more than he would have been if he had received a medal. The reason? Because those engineers knew the value of my son's project in the real world. They weren't interested in how it compared to anyone else's experiment. They evaluated his project on its own and they liked what they saw!

Our heavenly Father is just like that! He isn't interested in us because we're cuter, taller, more talented, or more articulate than anyone else. He sees our value in how He made us. We were His idea! He compares us to no one else. He blesses us as we use the gifts He gave us in the real world! If a bunch of stuffed shirts don't think much of you, I pray you won't give that another thought. You were placed on this planet to glorify God, not to glorify anyone else. As long as you do what you were called to do while you are here, God will like what He sees!