Three Things

Last week my daughters started back to school. At new schools. In our new place of residence. Oh the anticipation in our household a week ago. You could have cut the air with a knife as tension and fear crept into our home last Sunday.

I’m happy to say we all survived the week. I’m convinced that “back to school” is a journey for the entire family. There were nerves. There were tears.  And there were sighs of relief. There were new teachers, new coaches, new friends, new academic challenges and many new opportunities for a fresh start—something we all needed.

I’m struggling to find the words to write. I want to craft a story that brings you into my world, so you can understand, that despite all the tension and newness and change that occurred in our lives recently, how good it really feels. But that would mean explaining the circumstances that we left behind—things I’m not quite ready to share yet.   So, what do I write?

I’m going to tell you three things, in no particular order, that I learned by watching my kids navigate the many changes that came at them the first week of school.

First Lesson: “What fear tears down, bravery overcomes,” Madeline Keane. That would be a six-word sentence Madeline constructed to describe herself at this current time in her life.  It was a “get to know you” assignment in her English class.  Students had to describe themselves to the rest of the class in one very short sentence.

Second Lesson: After having a difficult night of jitters about making new friends, and some people pleasing tendencies she discovered within herself, Isabelle woke up Monday morning with a fresh perspective. “Not everyone is going to like me, Mom. No matter how nice or how approachable I am, some people just don’t connect with each other. And that is okay.”

As I collapsed into bed one night last week, I thought through these two deep thoughts the girls had shared with me. I was reminded of the story of Joseph in Genesis. Whether you have read the story in the Bible, or seen the musical on the live stage, there is one profound takeaway.

(Joseph addressing his brothers.) “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. Genesis 50:20a”

After years of facing hardships because of his jealous, misguided, brothers; Joseph, through God, overcame slavery, scandal, and imprisonment, only to rise to great power and honor in a new land. I love it when a story has a happy ending. I love it even more when that story is full of adversity, crisis and tough struggles, and in the end, there is a happily ever after.

Last school year for my daughters will not be one that is remembered fondly. They both faced many adversities. At the time it was difficult to see God’s hand, or understand His plan for them. As parents we stood by wondering what God was up to. Those hardships eventually pointed us in the direction of making a move, and finding a fresh start in a new place.

And a fresh start it has been. Sure the week was full of many anxious moments as the girls settled into a new routine, with new people, in a new place, but it is so much better than the old place.

Third Lesson: Despite the difficulties we faced as a family this last year, this life is pretty damn good. I am blessed and grateful for the lessons I’m learning.