It’s that time of year again. The countdown to summer break has officially begun. The calendar is bursting with parties, concerts, field trips, exams, and graduations. But even in the midst of so much distraction there’s also a very real temptation—to coast.
Our kids feel it. Maybe you feel it too. Call it Spring Fever, but after a long school year, with the finish line in sight, the instinct can be to ease up. But what if this season—this final stretch—is one of the most important times for growth?
Finishing well matters. Not just for grades or performances or test scores, but for the kind of character that’s being formed in our children—and in us.
Scripture reminds us of this in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” These last few weeks of school offer a powerful opportunity to teach perseverance. Your child may need to remember to finish well with good conduct in the classroom. Or finish well by sitting still for another music concert. Or finish well by being a steady, friend. Or finish well by studying for AP or final exams. As parents we get to coach them toward that goal. Not perfection, but consistency. Not exhaustion, but endurance. Finishing well.
And let’s be honest—finishing well applies to us, too. Diligence can be hard for parents in any season. We’re juggling work deadlines, laundry piles, meal prep, and the everyday responsibilities that don’t pause just because the calendar gets full. It’s hard to stay engaged when the to-do list is never-ending and everyone’s running on fumes. This is where finishing well becomes more than a task list. It becomes an act of love.
Our kids aren’t just watching how they finish the school year—they’re watching how we finish it with them. When we show up with grace instead of grumbling we’re giving them a picture of faithfulness that will stick far longer than any report card.
Remember this fun wisdom from Charles Spurgeon: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
We’re almost there. And with God’s help, we won’t just survive to the end—we’ll finish well.