The end of a homeschooling academic year gives us a wonderful opportunity to zoom out — to look at the big picture of growth and accomplishments and celebrate the good that we have done. Sometimes, though, it is too easy to focus on what hasn’t been done — the workbook that hasn’t been completed, or the book that hasn’t been fully read or the resource where I might have used just a few pages. At the beginning of an academic year, I am usually very excited about all the possibilities . . the unknown is so full of promise! At the end of the year, there are inevitability some disappointments, if I choose to focus on that — all the things that didn’t get done. But I remind myself that if some things didn’t get done that I had planned for, my family was also able to engage in some wonderful activities or moments that I also didn’t plan for, but those moments were the right choices for our family and spontaneous blessings to be sure! And through all of our experiences, we learned. We all did — what did we learn? Academics to be sure, at least even a little bit. But academic knowledge is only one piece of the wholeness of what it means to be educated. And many times, I think we overinflate the important of that piece of our wholeness. Did we grow in character? Did we grow in relationship building? Did we grow in virtues such as patience, self-control or generosity? How about growing in the ability to be creative and bring beauty into the world? And most importantly, did we grow in our closeness to God? As I zoom out, I pray that God will open my eyes to the bigger, more important ways our family has grown, journeying together on the path to Heaven — for that is the real test of our “success” — did we grow closer to God during this academic year? How? In what ways did we allow ourselves to be His instruments? And do we yearn to offer ourselves and all that we do now and in the future for His glory? Lord, help me to see by Zooming out to see just a little bit of Your Panoramic view!