My house is quiet this morning, except for the soft tapping of my fingers on the keyboard and the low whirr of the washing machine. The pool is quiet, too. All the floats are put away and only tiny ripples from the vacuum move the water. More snack bags top the grocery list hanging on my pantry door. All signs that summer has given way to another school year.
Last week my little man started at a new school. We were both anxious to make a good first impression. I made sure his lunchbox matched his backpack and that I completed the back and front of every one of those forms that fill kids’ folders at the start of each new year. He picked out his “coolest outfit” and drew a picture for his teacher.
With backpacks packed and clothes ironed, we decided to take one more evening swim to cap off the last night of summer. Andrew swam like a fish, right into the side of the pool.
He came up gasping for air between loud sobs. One glance at his precious little face, and I knew he had met his match. Unfortunately the pool had won, leaving him an oozing red scrape across his dimpled cheek - an accessory we had not planned when we chose his outfit for the first day of school.
Horrified at the sight of himself, he begged me to delay the start of his school year. He dramatically attempted to convince me that it would only take a few days to heal and that he would do all his make-up work without a single bit of whining.
As sorry as I was that he wouldn’t be walking into school with just a smile on his face, I knew he had to go. “It’s just a scrape, and it will heal,” I reassured him. “Your new friends will think your tough,” his Daddy added.
It has healed. He has made new friends. And, I’m pretty sure his teacher has not awarded us “Worst Parents of the Year.”
Yet I also know that not all hurts my kids may face this year will heal that easily.
Falling back into our school routine has also helped us land back into a nightly time of family Bible reading. This week, Lance shared the story of Abraham and Isaac. I’ve heard that story dozens of times and read probably as many blogs about Abraham’s great display of faith.
But what about the faith of Issac?
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Genesis 22:9
The Bible makes it clear that Abraham had Isaac when he was very old, 100 years old to be exact. These events take place years later. Abraham is even more advanced in years, and Isaac a strong young man. That can only mean one thing…
Isaac laid down willingly.
I have no doubt he could have resisted the rope. He could have refused to lie down. He could have run away.
Maybe Abraham wished he would.
But if Isaac had not been willing to face the fire, he would never have seen God provide the ram.
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord Will Provide.
Genesis 22:13-14a
On those days when my kids are faced with trials that require far more than Neosporin and a little time to heal, those times when there is nothing in my momma-arsenal at all that will make it better…
Those are the days God will use to demonstrate His love for them. To immerse them in His presence. To embrace them in His comfort. Those are the days the Lord Will Provide.
Lord, thank you that there are no mountains you have asked me to climb, no trials you have asked me to endure that are not part of your good plan for me. I believe that is true for my life.
Give me the grace to believe it on those days when I am holding my child’s hand up that mountain, too.
Last week my little man started at a new school. We were both anxious to make a good first impression. I made sure his lunchbox matched his backpack and that I completed the back and front of every one of those forms that fill kids’ folders at the start of each new year. He picked out his “coolest outfit” and drew a picture for his teacher.
With backpacks packed and clothes ironed, we decided to take one more evening swim to cap off the last night of summer. Andrew swam like a fish, right into the side of the pool.
He came up gasping for air between loud sobs. One glance at his precious little face, and I knew he had met his match. Unfortunately the pool had won, leaving him an oozing red scrape across his dimpled cheek - an accessory we had not planned when we chose his outfit for the first day of school.
Horrified at the sight of himself, he begged me to delay the start of his school year. He dramatically attempted to convince me that it would only take a few days to heal and that he would do all his make-up work without a single bit of whining.
As sorry as I was that he wouldn’t be walking into school with just a smile on his face, I knew he had to go. “It’s just a scrape, and it will heal,” I reassured him. “Your new friends will think your tough,” his Daddy added.
It has healed. He has made new friends. And, I’m pretty sure his teacher has not awarded us “Worst Parents of the Year.”
Yet I also know that not all hurts my kids may face this year will heal that easily.
Falling back into our school routine has also helped us land back into a nightly time of family Bible reading. This week, Lance shared the story of Abraham and Isaac. I’ve heard that story dozens of times and read probably as many blogs about Abraham’s great display of faith.
But what about the faith of Issac?
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Genesis 22:9
The Bible makes it clear that Abraham had Isaac when he was very old, 100 years old to be exact. These events take place years later. Abraham is even more advanced in years, and Isaac a strong young man. That can only mean one thing…
Isaac laid down willingly.
I have no doubt he could have resisted the rope. He could have refused to lie down. He could have run away.
Maybe Abraham wished he would.
But if Isaac had not been willing to face the fire, he would never have seen God provide the ram.
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord Will Provide.
Genesis 22:13-14a
On those days when my kids are faced with trials that require far more than Neosporin and a little time to heal, those times when there is nothing in my momma-arsenal at all that will make it better…
Those are the days God will use to demonstrate His love for them. To immerse them in His presence. To embrace them in His comfort. Those are the days the Lord Will Provide.
Lord, thank you that there are no mountains you have asked me to climb, no trials you have asked me to endure that are not part of your good plan for me. I believe that is true for my life.
Give me the grace to believe it on those days when I am holding my child’s hand up that mountain, too.
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