What a summer it has been. Like many others, I spend most of the summer traveling about. One trip was to Pharr, Tx (full of blessings and great memories). I spend a month in Dallas at a school, where I studied, worshiped, fellowshipped, and studied some more. This was all followed up by a week’s vacation where R&R was the word(s) of the week. And now, I’m back in the office trying to get back in gear for the coming year.
All around me this week there have been students and parents getting back into their regular school-year mode. Parents took their Kindergarteners to the first day of class to begin their journey into formal schooling, where tears were shed (I think some of the children may have cried a bit too). On the other end of the spectrum, there were other parents loading up their college freshmen and leaving them on campus to begin a new journey of education. This event may be just as hard as that first day of Kindergarten.
Through all the days of my daughter’s school days, I knew that my job was to help her get to where she was able to leave my house and live on her own. It was my job to see that she made it to college and was equipped to stand on her own two feet when she got there. Her last year of high school grew harder and harder on my heart, as I knew the day was getting closer of when she would no longer be in my house every day. Even so I was proud to watch her grow and become someone who would be quite capable in the world out there.
Then the day actually came. I was going to be sooooo cool. I had it planned out to help her get settled in her room, spend the night and then take her to campus before driving off and leaving her that first day. “Bye. Have a great day” I planned to say as she got out of the car, and then I would smile, wave and drive away. No tears for me (I’m a happy crier). So I drove her to campus that morning, stopped, watched her hop out of the car and turn around to tell me goodbye. “Bye Mom, I love you” she said. Then time stopped.
The cute young woman standing before me suddenly shrank a couple of inches, sprouted long pig-tails, gained a lunchbox and an armful of books. All I could see was that little grade-school girl smiling and about to walk into the school. The tears began to well up. “Mom?” she said, waiting for my response. My cool-ness was quickly disappearing, but I managed a smile, a wave, and an “I love you too. Have a great day” before she closed the car door. Then time began to move again as I watched that confident young woman walk away.
Every new school year that comes around reminds me of days like that. Without the confidence that Jesus was at the center of her life, I don’t know how I could have left her there. My prayers right now certainly include the children and youth who are starting school again, that they may grow in wisdom, in the school and in the Sunday schools. I pray for their parents, that they may be wise in guiding their children to learn about Jesus as fervently as they worry about grades. Will you join me?
All around me this week there have been students and parents getting back into their regular school-year mode. Parents took their Kindergarteners to the first day of class to begin their journey into formal schooling, where tears were shed (I think some of the children may have cried a bit too). On the other end of the spectrum, there were other parents loading up their college freshmen and leaving them on campus to begin a new journey of education. This event may be just as hard as that first day of Kindergarten.
Through all the days of my daughter’s school days, I knew that my job was to help her get to where she was able to leave my house and live on her own. It was my job to see that she made it to college and was equipped to stand on her own two feet when she got there. Her last year of high school grew harder and harder on my heart, as I knew the day was getting closer of when she would no longer be in my house every day. Even so I was proud to watch her grow and become someone who would be quite capable in the world out there.
Then the day actually came. I was going to be sooooo cool. I had it planned out to help her get settled in her room, spend the night and then take her to campus before driving off and leaving her that first day. “Bye. Have a great day” I planned to say as she got out of the car, and then I would smile, wave and drive away. No tears for me (I’m a happy crier). So I drove her to campus that morning, stopped, watched her hop out of the car and turn around to tell me goodbye. “Bye Mom, I love you” she said. Then time stopped.
The cute young woman standing before me suddenly shrank a couple of inches, sprouted long pig-tails, gained a lunchbox and an armful of books. All I could see was that little grade-school girl smiling and about to walk into the school. The tears began to well up. “Mom?” she said, waiting for my response. My cool-ness was quickly disappearing, but I managed a smile, a wave, and an “I love you too. Have a great day” before she closed the car door. Then time began to move again as I watched that confident young woman walk away.
Every new school year that comes around reminds me of days like that. Without the confidence that Jesus was at the center of her life, I don’t know how I could have left her there. My prayers right now certainly include the children and youth who are starting school again, that they may grow in wisdom, in the school and in the Sunday schools. I pray for their parents, that they may be wise in guiding their children to learn about Jesus as fervently as they worry about grades. Will you join me?
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1 comment:
Thank you for sharing Valerie. I too thought I was prepared. After we spent the night before the dorm move-in, at hotel- going out for a wonderful steak dinner in downtown Austin. I was able to be a mom still taking care of her. The next day both nervous and excited, finding carts - checking in - finding the dorm room - moving in her room from home, to her home in college. While in a shared bathroom looking at my watch it hit me I had to leave in 20 minutes for a planned event in Houston. I looked at myself in the mirror and the tears came. My sweet and wonderful daughter came in and said ohhh... and gave me a hug - I was able to say "I didn't know it would be this hard". As she walked me to my car as happy as she could be - I watched that young woman - so happy to start the next step in her life, leave me to go back to her new world. Knowing she will be fine. She has a great heart, a sweet soul, she has God all around her to help her and I along her path to adulthood and pray I have done and will continue to give the help/support she may need along the way. Its hard to let go. To see her room empty without her. The empty space in the drive where she parked her car. Hard even with the knowledge she will be back and probably drive me crazy with clothes and books piled 3 feet high! But this is life and I remember - Valerie, when you first came to BUMC, you said something to me along these lines, like...in the bible it is Gods will to let your children grow and go - and now I cannot remember the rest but it always stayed in my mind. Sometimes I still feel like a baby Christian. Eyes wide open trying to find my place in the church - but at the same time having such faith in God. Debbie
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