Counseling Blog | The Dunham School | Private PreK-12 | Baton Rouge, LA

Counseling Blog

May 2025

Celebrating Success

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have remained faithful.
- 2 Timothy 4:7

Everyone loves a good touchdown celebration, a big championship parade, an end of the year class party, a fun wedding reception or a team bus ride home after a victory. Jesus himself was recorded on more than one occasion at a celebration. We are at one of those times now in the calendar year where we can look back on finishing a challenging yet blessed school year and celebrate its completion. 

In the Biblical context for the above verse, Paul is reflecting on his life, his ministry, and the many trials he faced in order to spread the gospel and then meet his heavenly Father upon his death. He never gave up on his faith in Jesus and the mission he was given on the road to Damascus. None of our school years were as intense as his ministry saga in comparison, but for many of us and our families, it was really hard. It felt like a fight and a marathon – long nights doing projects, late practices, and early mornings where just trying to get out of the door on time was a grind. It can wear you down over the course of ten months. 

A lot can be said about finishing something difficult, something that really challenges us and pushes us to become uncomfortable or makes us question why we are doing it and produces thoughts of wanting to quit. Being able to push past those distracting and disheartening thoughts and emotions to finish what we started to completion is actually one of the joys of life. Celebrating a success is important – it’s hardwired in us to feel free to celebrate when we finish something hard. The joy in the celebration is a reflection of how hard the task was in order to get there. 

Being able to use that memory as proof you can do hard things and accomplish difficult goals is something we advocate for our students to use as a tool for current or upcoming struggles. See the outcome, trust God’s plan for you, keep your eyes on the prize, imagine what it will feel like when you’re done–all phrases we’ve used to finish something difficult. We grow in our faith when we rely on God to see us through a difficult year, season, or trial. It might not end in the immediate result we wanted, but we know His plans are good and His ways are perfect. (Genesis 50:20, Psalm 18:30)

I also believe it is also important to recognize God’s actions after each day of creation. He reflected on his work and acknowledged that his work was good. At the end, He rested! 

From the counseling staff at Dunham, we wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer!