His Ways are Higher

Scribbles of words run across a dusted yellow page inside a hand me down journal in the hands of a wide eyed little girl. Words are hard to find when your dreams are bigger than you are but I try my best to write them down. I want to be a teacher when I grow up because nothing is more exciting to me than loving children and teaching them as they grow. What an honor to be able to not shape or mold minds, but feed them and watch them transform into the glorious butterflies they are destined to be.

Years flew by before my very little eyes and as I grew up that dream changed multiple times. Dancer, therapist, pediatrician, pediatric dentistry to ministry. I had long forgotten of the days of wanting to teach children just thinking it was never Gods will for me to be in a public school classroom. But God’s ways are higher than our ways. There is always a reason things happen and it may be for a purpose we do not yet know of.

I remember the year my daughter started kindergarten and the fear that gripped me. Will she be cared for properly? Will they teach her well? How will she behave? Underneath the weight of worry there was excitement knowing that she was going to learn despite my fears. I turned my moments of worry into moments of big prayer for her every morning as she rode the bus to school. But a few weeks later the Lord would call me to something I never thought I would do and that was home school my children for the remainder of their education.

Like a wild animal coming back to the place he ate his last meal seeking for the next, fear came over me once again. I don’t always do so well when things change suddenly. I was so afraid I wouldn’t have the capacity or the skills to pull of such a huge task. Where in the world would I get the money and will I have the patience more importantly? Sure enough God came through provided me with everything I needed and then some for our first year together in our little classroom. It was not until we were halfway finished with our school year did I realize that first dream I ever had was after all what God had called me to do but with my own children in our home. I was full of wonder the moment this revelation came forth in my mind. The dream of becoming a teacher was indeed the plan and will of God for me all along! Fear and worry was replaced with worship and thankfulness every start of the school season. My God had came through for me in such an awesome way! As He always does.

No matter what comes this year I want you to know that sometimes things may not go as you expect but there may be a reason for that. Take everything to the Lord and lean on Him for all understanding and He will lead you to still waters in ways you never would have thought. Don’t hinder the dreams of your children and teach them to dream big. One day they may look back and see the faithfulness of God and how He has brought those very things to life in their adult years. Childhood dreams are one way the Lord speaks His will into our lives at a very young age. His ways are higher and greater than ours and I am so thankful they are!

Have a great School Year!

Love

J.S

It’s time for School, are you Anxious?

boy in brown hoodie carrying red backpack while walking on dirt road near tall trees
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Can you believe it? It’s almost time for those kids to go back to school. I bet you can’t wait or if your little one is a new school yard chum you are freaking out, having anxiety and asking every one on Facebook to pray for them… and also YOU. Okay maybe that last part was more from my experience. I know that school time can bring on a mixture of emotions. As I grew up I always imagined waking up before my kids, fully dressed, with hot breakfast on the table and lunch boxes ready to go. But that just didn’t happen at all.

Actually the year my eldest entered kindergarten was the hardest year of my parenting life so far. And there are so many reasons why that was. But it was not what I dreamed of.  I got to wake up twice that entire year.  In my robe mind you on shuffling my feet across my kitchen floor. I could barely keep my eyes open because 3 hours ago I was just breastfeeding her baby brother. So I had to stay in bed as her dad got her ready and walked her to the bus.

But every morning the sound of the bus would awaken me and sometimes I would cry. My heart was aching knowing my daughter was an hour away from me and on a school bus (which I detested from childhood experiences).  So I decided every time the bus came i would pray. Pray for her protection and trust that the Lord was with her. Because for the first time in my life I was not standing beside her and protecting her.

School time can bring on so much joy for some parents but anxiety for others. Especially in light of all the school shootings and the moral decline in our school systems and class rooms. I just want to give you some advice on some things to try that may make it easier for those who are anxious.

Pray

Of course this has to be the first advice I give you. It is the most important thing. When you are over whelmed from anxiety or fear  it’s hard to get a grip on things. He is the anchor for your very soul. He promises to be your strength when you are weak and He will help you to become still in order for peace to enter in your heart. Trust in the Lord to lead you to peace.

Look Forward

It really helped me when I thought about all the things that she may tell me when she got home. I kept an eye on the clock reminding myself that in a few hours she will be home.  Fill up your time with productivity but never forget to rest. Do something for yourself. No matter how small it is.  It will help take your mind off those worries.

Focus on the Good

Be honest with the Lord or friends about how you feel. But don’t focus on any negative thoughts. They will only lead you right back to the place of needing to be rescued from anxiety again. The only way to keep your peace is to do as Philippians 4:8 says.

Weekends are for fun

Don’t let the worries of this world steal your joy and rob you of intimacy with your children. I planned my weekends to focus on spending quality time with my daughter. Our week days were filled with studying, home work, house chores, dinner. It didn’t leave much room for quality time with her so I always planned something for the weekends. Take the Saturday and go for a walk. Teach your kids to breathe as you breathe. They may be feeling the same anxiety you are too about heading back.

I know this world is getting darker but remember Who Holds The Light. That light even among darkness is for you. And He even creates light out of darkness. Pray for the ones who are without love and who are victims of the evil in this world. Pray over the school year and our educators at the schools and in the homes of homeschoolers as well. I am praying that this year would be different and that there will be great change. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

From one Parent to another

God bless this school year and may He protect and watch over our children!