Miracles and God's Will - Part 2

We began the week in full recruitment mode to save my son's JROTC program at the high school. I spent several hours Monday evening helping to draft a letter for parents describing the benefits of the program. On Tuesday, my son and two other cadets visited the middle school and had 52 8th graders sign up. It was the miracle we had prayed for! The size of the group had increased from 73 to 125 and they were told the program could continue with 100. My son was ecstatic! Everyone was amazed and thrilled. Recruiting continued as letters were passed out to parents in the car rider lines and there was even more interest. It looked so promising. However...

The parents received an email on Friday indicating that the high school was notified of a decision by the Air Force to deactivate the unit. The administration said it was final. Our hopes were crushed and I was furious. The principal gave the cadets one week to increase enrollment, they surpassed the mark, then the administration let them down by not fighting for the program.

Ephesians 4:25-27 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

These verses describe my Friday evening so well. I felt that we were lied to about saving the program. I was angry but I didn't go into Mama Bear mode. I took a very long walk and put a lot of thought into voicing my displeasure in the treatment of our students. I spent hours Friday night writing to the school board and superintendent asking why this happened. I was not rude, but I did ask some questions about how this was handled. I finished the emails just before midnight and went to sleep.

It hurts so much that the students were lead to believe that the school wanted to keep the program, but the school failed to hold up their end of the bargain. It's definitely a lesson in how the world treats you. But we saw our students' efforts and they saw their parents' efforts. Together we made a great team and never gave up. We are all disappointed, but the students  saw first hand how to fight for somethings you believe in.