So, this week my boys went back to school! I gotta be honest, I was pretty excited! Summer is a weird time – believe it or not, I’m a guy who likes routine. Now don’t get me wrong, I love change (especially when it’s good change) but there’s just something about knowing what to expect over the course of a week. I need to be here, I have down time here, I can read here, I can kick back here, I have this appointment here – those are good things to know. Summer doesn’t always afford me with as much “known” time as I’d like to have. Add to that theoddities that have been this summer in particular and it leads to a much longed for return to school.
In getting ready for school, I found something really interesting – I was the only one in the
house looking forward to it! The boys were frustrated all summer long that it would one day end and they would return to captivity. Our super awesome nanny for the summer was bummed – she really enjoyed her time with my boys (I still owe her money – gotta jump on that). Joy was a little more passive in her feelings toward the return to school – i think the main frustration there was figuring out all those darn school supplies. No, I was the ecstatic one!
So on Tuesday morning I was prepared for the weeping and gnashing of teeth that was anticipated all summer long. My youngest bounded out of bed and was ready to roll. He and mom were dressed and ready to go in about 10 minutes. My oldest was a little more hesitant. We left him alone to slowly enter the land of reality! After about 10 mins, I went into his room to check on him. I was greeted with a smile – which surprised me. “Are ya ready?” I asked him.”I’m a little nervous.” he said sheepishly.
I sat there with my boy for about 5 more minutes reassuring him and telling him our favorite story – the story of Joshua’s call to lead Israel into the promised land. We talked about how scary it must have been for Joshua to be in charge of all those people and how alone he must have felt going to a new place. Then we remembered what the angel said to Josh – “Do not fear, for the Lord is with YOU!”. I asked my boy what he thought Joshua would have felt or thought
about that. He said, “must have felt good.” We then talked about how that promise was for him too – when he’s feeling uncertain and a little shy about experiencingsome thing new, God is with him and daddy and mommy are with him in their prayers – He’s never alone.
There have been times in my life when I’ve needed to be reminded of this simple promise – actually there have been a LOT of times when I’ve needed that reminder. Life can be really intimidating and scary for a TON of different reasons. One of the things I love about God is that God wanted to make sure we always knew that we weren’t alone, so God sent Jesus. Jesus knew and knows all of that insecurity – he faced fear straight in the face – left heaven, encountered people who loved and hated him and eventually faced the torture of the cross. Jesus went through all of that, in part, so we would never have to feel alone again! It’s a message that most of us have heard a couple times, but it’s a message that simply changes EVERYTHING!
After our reminder moment Tuesday morning, my boy got up, got a bath, got dressed, ate and did it all with a SMILE on his face. When he saw that first bus drive down the street, he explained to me that he too was ready to “do this thing!” I almost cried with pride. We walked to the bus stop and for the first time, he and his brother climbed up the steps to go to a new school and a totally unknown adventure. As he drove away we rose our right hands in the arm as a reminder – BE STRONG FOR I AM WITH YOU! At pick up time, he got off the bus smiling – “dad, this is gonna be an awesome school year!” Oh, and now I’m ecstatic for a whole new reason!
