Kids are slowly going back to school, and I thought I was ready… Until I read a disturbing story the other day that happened at an elementary school. Fear came flooding in – There’s no way I can send my kids to public school. This is the first time both of my kids will be in school and I’m not ready.
I’m not ready for the car lines.
I’m not ready to hear “I only drank my chocolate milk because I didn’t like the food.”
I’m not ready for the homework struggle.
I’m not ready to have an empty house during the day.
I’m not ready to send them off into the unknown.
I’m not ready for them to be exposed to negative influences.
I’m not ready for the bullying.
I’m not ready for my kids to grow up.
God, I’m not ready to give up (dare I say it) control.
I’m not ready!
I could feel panic setting in, so I did what I usually do when I feel this emotion. I went for a run and started praying… Well actually, I started off by telling God what I wanted him to do.
“God, you have to keep them safe, you have to protect them and give them a good teacher with kids who are nice.”
Anyone else ever make suggestions to God?
As I was running, I saw this field that had previously been plowed to dirt because it’s supposed to be developed with homes soon. What once was dirt, was now a huge field of beautiful, golden sunflowers. I was in awe.
Now, you might not see that as miraculous, but I run this route at least twice a week. Last week, there were only a few flowers.
I slowed to a stop and took in the beauty. I think God wanted me to get out of my head and look at what HE can do.
“Ok God, I give up, I know you are in control.”
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10.
Sometimes when we are spiraling in our thoughts, the best thing we can do is BE STILL. You might not have the answers, but our perfect Father does.
God really is who he says he is.
For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
1 John 3:20 MSG
I may not be ready to let my babies go, but I am ready to see how God uses them. I am ready to see who they become and what they learn. And when obstacles come, I’ll remember to be still so I can feel God’s presence. He’s the only one who can clear my dirt clouded mind.
So I get out of God’s way so he can work in my children’s hearts and I can watch them bloom.
To the Mom not ready to send your child to Kindergarten – the parent dreading the 200 mile drive to say goodbye to your college student, I invite you to pray with me:
Heavenly Father, I lift up all of the parents sending their children to school. You know our anxious hearts, our troubled minds. Draw near to us Lord, cover us with your peace. Help us to trust you with our children and the plan you have for them. Help us give up control so we can watch our kids bloom. Give our kids courage to stand up for themselves and discernment to know right from wrong. I pray over all the teachers, give them energy to pour into these kids and be a positive role model. God we may not be ready to send our kids off to school, but you are ready! We trust you with our children and we can rest and find comfort in that. Amen.
