In two weeks, we will have a kindergartner.
Honestly, even as I typed that I can hardly believe it.
Where did my little boy go? The one that I used to rock in my arms until he fell asleep?
In some ways, I don’t feel old enough, or even responsible enough to be at this point. First, they trusted me to raise a baby, and now I’m responsible for his education??
It can feel all feel like a lot at times.
This summer my husband and I have struggled through the decisions that so many other families face.
Should he be in public school? Private school? How would we possibly pay for it?
Am I a bad mom if I’m not homeschooling? What is everyone else doing? Is he already behind?
These are the thoughts, questions, and fears that creep into my head (mostly in the middle of the night) as late August approaches.
Will he be ready on that day when I pack his lunch and his backpack and send him out into the world?
In many ways, I feel like my kids are my heart outside of my body.
I want them to make friends easily. I want their teachers to love God. I worry about how they’ll deal with bad influences, and I don’t ever want them to be in a position to have their feelings hurt.
But in the midst of all my worries and fears about the future, I hear a gentle whisper, a small voice saying, “Trust me.”
[verse reference=” Matthew 6:31-34“]“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” [/verse]
Instead of worrying about every little thing my sweet 5-year-old could possibly face, I can proactively arm him with the Word of God.
I can share the promises we find in scripture. I can remind him that God knows what we need, and when we seek Him first, everything else will fall into place.
I can lift him up in prayer right now, and every day leading up to his first time in that classroom.
I can pray God would bring the right friends, the perfect teacher, and wisdom for every single challenge we’ll face along the way.
In two weeks we will have a kindergartner. But my husband and I are not in this alone.
And whatever change YOU have ahead in your life, you’re not alone in it either.
The God who created you, who placed you and your family right where you are in this moment, is faithful.
Your heavenly Father knows what your needs are. Seek Him. Invite Him into your changing seasons. And don’t worry about tomorrow, or the first day, second, third day, or fourth day of school.
He’s got it. And tomorrow will worry about itself.
