Dear Friends,
Well we have survived exam results here in the vicarage and the children did very well but it can be a very stressful time: envelopes are opened, emails are checked, and students across the country discover the results of their hard work. For some, it’s a time of celebration and relief. For others, it can be a season of disappointment, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future. At St Mary’s, it is important that we hold all our young people in prayer and remind them—and ourselves—that these results, while important are not the whole story of who they are.
Exams test memory, understanding, and perseverance, but they can never measure kindness, creativity, resilience or the love we share with others. A set of grades cannot capture a person’s humour, their ability to bring comfort to a friend or their quiet faithfulness in caring for a neighbour. These qualities, which so often go unseen in exam halls are in fact the treasures of life.
The Bible reminds us that each person is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Our worth does not depend on performance or achievement, but on being children of God, loved beyond measure. Jesus never asked to see anyone’s exam results before he called them to follow him. Fishermen, tax collector, and all sorts of ordinary people became his friends and disciples—not because they were top of the class, but because he saw their hearts and invited them into a new way of living.
Of course, exams matter. They open doors to opportunities, apprenticeships, jobs and courses. For those who have done well, we give thanks and rejoice. For those who feel disappointed, we offer reassurance that there are always second chances, new paths, and unexpected opportunities. Many people will tell you that the twists and turns of life, including failures and setbacks often lead to surprising blessings. What feels like a closed door today may turn out to be the doorway to something richer tomorrow.
It is natural for families to feel pressure at this time, too. Parents and grandparents may carry the hopes and worries of their young people deeply. Let us remember that the best gift we can offer them is our unconditional love and encouragement. A hug, a listening ear, and a reminder that “you are loved, no matter what” will be remembered long after the marks on a piece of paper have faded.
As a church family, we are called to celebrate every young person, whatever their results may be. Let’s continue to pray for them, to cheer them on, and to provide a safe and welcoming space where their identity is rooted not in grades but in the love of God. Exams may shape the next step of a journey, but they do not define the whole journey. And thanks be to God, the story of our lives is always bigger than the contents of an envelope or an email.
With every blessing,
Fr Andrew x
