From my friend Lindsey Osterhoff…
If you are at all a fan of Classic rock, you may know the Eric Clapton song that begins…”Lately I’ve been runnin’ on faith”. Well, that seems to be the theme song of my life at various times when the uncertainty level reaches an all-time high.
With the new school year upon us, I am reminded of a quote by Elizabeth Stone that goes, “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
This year I will have one in preschool, as well as, a 1st grader and a 3rd grader. I still vividly remember the day the oldest of my three hearts, Ally, went off to Kindergarten. I know that anyone with children can relate, whether your heart has just started Kindergarten, College or is somewhere in between.
Despite the fact that parents have 9 months to adjust to the idea of having a child and 5 more years to adjust to the idea of sending them off to school, that time seems to fly by so fast we are left wondering, “Why didn’t I have any time to prepare for this?” Just before Ally started school, we saw her classroom, met her teacher and bought her new Tinkerbell backpack. With all of that, the anticipation grew and each new day I became just a little more freaked out! The more I started to feel like Nemo’s dad, the more I needed to keep repeating the verse, “Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7.
When the big day finally arrived, Ally got dressed in her new uniform and we took about a million pictures, give or take a few. When we got to her classroom, we found her cubby, hung up the Tinkerbell backpack and took more pictures. I watched as she sat down at a table to color with 3 other little blond haired girls in pigtails. I was amazingly calm as I left, she didn’t cry, I didn’t cry. I knew my heart was in good hands, not because of her very sweet and well qualified teacher but because I was leaving her in the care of our gracious and loving Father. Isn’t it nice that we can trust Him with our most precious treasures?! All that’s left to do is go on faith…
With the start of each new school year, comes many new challenges. There are always uncertainties ahead as we seek to find out what God has in store for each of us and our children. He may call you to take a major step out of your comfort zone. There will be days that it will be hard and you might start to wonder if you heard him right, but instead of getting anxious or giving up, give it to HIM and GO ON FAITH that He will work it out.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6