For anyone with kids who attend a Hamilton County school you prepared for and sent your kids back to school this week. To many parents it is a relief as the long days of summer are now over and you can get back to doing what you need to do. Up until this year I had never known what the back to school routine was like. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed.
The biggest emotional moment for me came the night before Brayden’s phase-in day of kindergarten. I had bought a book for the boys earlier in the day and wanted to read it to Brayden specifically before bed. As I lay down beside him to read the book my emotions began to bubble to the surface. We read Dr. Seuss’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” It was in reading that book (and then putting everything he would need to take to school the next day together) that really peaked my emotions.
“Congratulations!
Today is the day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Starting kindergarten is a huge step for kids. It’s a huge deal for parents too. Sending your once small little baby (who isn’t so small anymore) into a new adventure where the hardest place to be is standing back and watching is scary. Will he be ok? Will he get lost? What will he learn? Will he decide he doesn’t need me anymore? These are all questions that have come to my mind as I’ve awaited this day. And while I am learning to give this new area of my life to God I am finding once more the similarities that our Father in Heaven must have.
God doesn’t have to ask the same questions I am about us. He already knows. But He still stays by and watches as we go through life without Him or without choosing to include Him. He stands back and watches as we enter new chapters of our lives. He’s always there, just like us as parents here on Earth, waiting to see if He is called on. He also gives us space, as we should do as parents here on Earth, to make our own decisions instead of making them for us.
I may have stood in my kitchen crying after making Brayden’s lunch but I know my little boy has to take this next step in life. This will be another moment where I have to cling to God in faith that He will watch out for my little boy when I’m not around. It is difficult at times to let go of things you hold so dear and place them into the hands of God. He knows what to do and what will happen. We don’t. But it is that faith that we know He has the best interests in mind. He knows the places Brayden, and I, will go. He knows that we will stumble at times and get scared. But he will always be there to pick us back up.
“Whether you like it or not, alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
You’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
That can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go though the weather be foul.
On you will go though your enemies prowl.”
God conquered the enemy. God loves you unconditionally. You are not alone. He is standing by, watching and waiting, for you to include Him. As you start a new chapter in your life be it a new school year or something else remember to include God in it. He is ready to be there.
“Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.”
Stephanie Henderson
Student Pastor