No Matter What -- God's Got This School Year

In spite of the face masks, rules of hygiene, social distancing, on-line or in-person school – I’m asking God for His favor on this year with so many blessings and great accomplishments for our children AND even for you moms and dads. What a breath of fresh air it has been to see such optimism on my FB feed lately of photos of kids going back to school.

Those precious children make me smile with great hope for the beginners, the teenagers and college ones in their dorm rooms. Wide-eyed wonder and excitement about a new year of meeting new friends and having great adventures. No doubt, there will be certain challenges along the way, but I choose to believe it will open their minds to all the possibilities and rewards of being a winner and an overcomer.

I loved my dear friend’s comment to me that of all the concerns she had, her kids are so optimistic, contented and settled into their dorm or school already. Now, she’s optimistic, contented and grateful to God and expecting to be an overcoming mom! I’ve seen many optimistic parents making bold confessions of faith for their kiddos. I’m praying that the first of this school year reveals tremendous resolve and determination because of how last year’s school-year ended – with resolve and determination of you stay-at-home parents who CONQUERED! I loved one mom’s prayer: “My prayer tonight as my boy takes his first steps into high school -- above everything -- that being a Christ-follower is at the top of his desires."

That’s the attitude we should all have for our children and grandchildren. Of all the knowledge they acquire, all the common sense experiences that they will learn from -- the single most important achievement is to be devoted followers of Christ in their friendships, in the decisions they make and their problem-solving with God’s wisdom leading the way.

Luke 2:52 mentions four areas Jesus grew in as a young boy: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” Our Lord grew wiser and He physically grew. His relationship with His Heavenly Father continuously grew and was strengthened. Jesus even gained favor with people who saw Him day to day. I love the simple sentence that precedes this: “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” We never see Mary worried and anxious. She pondered about her son, but she didn’t allow her heart to become rattled. And neither should we.

May we all strive to be like Mary, turning our anxious thoughts into treasured prayers, kept safe and held fast by our loving Father — the One who knows our hearts and loves our children even more than we do. When a concern pops up in our mind, we carry that concern to God. When we start to fear for our child’s future, we petition the One who knows what the future holds.

Heavenly Father, I pray for all these precious children that are starting a new school year. Protect them, encourage them and fill them with strong minds to learn and grow. Help them to be a great friend and to have great friends. I pray moms and dads can turn their concerns and worries into prayers, knowing You are in control. Please help them to treasure each moment with their children as they grow in wisdom and stature and favor with others and You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Back to School Routines

When my community was buying school supplies for children in need, I joined in with them -- buying spiral notebooks, crayons, binders, pencils, pens, notebook paper, glue, and other school supplies. It brought back memories of buying school supplies for my own two kiddos -- backpacks, lunch kits, and all the essentials from the school’s list of supplies. Please indulge me once again, with one of my favorite photos of a new school year for them when we lived at Lake Keystone, Oklahoma. Actually, it was Staci’s first year of school

Here we are with the lazy days of summer almost over. The Fall school routine is well underway for my Frisco grandchildren and next week, the Austin two will begin their routines. Soon they’ll all be in the swing of things with their new courses and loads of homework.

Here’s the best advice I can offer from a “Nana’s” point of view. We can either worry about what this school year holds or we can follow the lead of Mary and Joseph in the Gospel of Luke 2. Four areas are mentioned that Jesus grew in as a young boy: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with man (people).” Our Lord grew wiser each year. He physically grew. His relationship with His Heavenly Father continually strengthened. Jesus even gained favor with people who saw Him day to day.

The verse that precedes Jesus growth in Luke 2:51 is this one: “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” When Mary was mothering Jesus, she tucked thoughts (some Bible translations say she “treasured” them) of her son safely in her heart. In none of those descriptions do we see Mary fretting, worried and anxious. She pondered about her son and his growth, but she didn’t allow her mama heart to ever become rattled.

I’m so pleased that my kids follow Joseph and Mary’s lead by instructing and instilling in their kids those things that will increase them in wisdom and favor. Early yesterday morning, I went over to their home for morning devotion (one of their “must-do’s” before heading out to school). They take 30 minutes to an hour each morning to pour God’s word into their hearts. Words that talk about honor, integrity, doing the right things, praying, trusting God, being a friend, etc.

I can hear some of you saying “We don’t have that much time in the mornings!” Then take 5 minutes to speak affirmation, God’s love and “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength” motivation into them, and then pray with them for wisdom and favor. School mornings can be quite hectic but there is nothing more important than starting each day with putting God first. When He gets first place, then He promises to make their paths straight. “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33.

It’s a new season at the Wallace’s as Payton is driving now, so he and Alexia headed out the door for school on their own. That’s enough reason to have a little extra anxiety. But, no matter whether it’s their first year of school or, in Payton’s case, his Senior year of school, we can turn all our anxieties that we have for our children into treasured prayers for their safety and know they are being held fast by our loving Father — the One who knows our hearts and loves our children even more than we do.

When we turn our concerns into prayers, we create space in our hearts to treasure and ponder like Mary did. During those times when God is teaching our kids – whether it’s in arithmetic or obedience or establishing friendships, let’s realize that we parents and grandparents are also learning beautiful lessons of trusting and treasuring – completely confident that God is always in control and FATHER KNOWS BEST for our children AND us!