Starting at a new school

This week my two eldest children, Velociraptor and Princess, started school with thousands of others around Queensland. Velociraptor was particularly keen to get into it – for him the extended holidays were like standing for hours at the starting blocks, waiting for the race to begin.

But now the big day had arrived, I was getting nervous for him. It’s not easy starting a new school, particularly in Grade 4 where everyone else already has a history and friendships.

So, I wrote a small note to accompany their water bottles, fruit and oat-bread sandwiches, reminding them that I loved them and I was praying for them. Before slipping the notes into their lunch boxes, I hesitated momentarily – what if this good-intentioned act of love was social suicide for a Grade 4 boy?

As expected, the first day wasn’t easy, especially for Velociraptor. Apparently the work was too easy and the teacher joked around too much. But we soon discovered the real reason – some boys had refused to let him join their game of soccer over the lunch break. Ouch. We were relieved that Princess seemed ok with her Grade 2 class… until she saw some photos of Cambodia and crumbled into tears.

I must confess that it’s times like these that I complain to God that this journey is just too much for my kids. It’s not fair that they must keep crossing cultures and continents, saying hellos and goodbyes, trying hard to fit into a place from where they will be uprooted sometime in the future.

Yet, God is good. He gently reminds me that He is worthy and He is near. Anything that occurs on this journey is for our good and His glory for only through struggles will we grow. Even the heartache for my children leads me to pray and be more intentional as a Mum.

I quietly asked Velociraptor if he got my note in the lunchbox. His frown turned to a grateful smile. “Yes Mum. I really needed it”.

I prayed even more earnestly that night for my kids, determined to trust Jesus and release them to His care. The next day, as we raced out the door, Velociraptor asked for the note again, anticipating the need for comfort on another difficult day. I was glad to be able to pat the lunch box and say “I’ve already written another one.” (When Grandma heard about the notes, she wrote one for the next day as well!).

When he arrived home that afternoon, I got the thumbs up. Some kids had let him join in on their game of soccer. “The note was still nice, but I didn’t need it so much today”.

Thank you Jesus. You are near.. and you are worthy.