My daughter and I just returned from our first college visit trip. It was a unique experience. I was a little stressed before hand getting all the travel arrangements made and wondering if we could actually afford to visit two colleges over spring break, but, of course, God provided abundantly!
I won’t say much about the colleges because, well, we’ve only seen two, and in the next two years my daughter could change her mind a million times. But I did want to talk about the process…It was such a learning experience for me…I learned a lot about this process, about myself, about God, and a little more about my daughter…I learned that this process does not have to be scary. This next phase need not be any more worrisome than this phase is. This process is so much less stressful than I thought it would be (until I get the first bill, of course). God has my girl in His hand. She is seeking Him. I am a director and mentor, but God is the CEO.
I was proud that my daughter handled all of the appointments and even asked questions, as she was simultaneously bombarded with information. She knows what she is looking for, and it has nothing to do with legalism. She wants to go where the students are on fire for the Lord, not where there is a checklist of things that mean you are engaging in the Christian life on campus.
I do not know where we are headed in this process, but I do know that I need to continue to be consulting God as we go, not the “experts” in the field so much. They obviously have their place, and can give information and perspective, but God, He has control.
I do have some “Mom-worries” as we travel this road…what if she’s not ready? What if she can’t keep up? What if she loses her passion for her faith? What if her grades drop and we can’t afford the school she wants after all? What is she isn’t passionate about anything, and can’t decide what to study? What if she’s not all that smart after all? What if she won’t engage with others and is lonely? What if her faith becomes rote and legalistic?
Essentially, in this phase of her life, we begin passing the authority to God. She is responsible to Him. Not that we are completely “hands off” at this point, but we need to send her to One who knows her best. Do I make this sound too easy? It’s not. I am wrestling. I want to take control. I want to make it work out my way. I want to spout my opinions and make her take them as her own.
But God calls me slightly, just slightly, a few steps away…a few steps off center…He reminds me of His love for her and of my responsibility to be what she needs in this next phase…and hopefully, I’ll learn what that is as I travel a new road…but I’m not alone–and I’m learning that sometimes that’s all I need to know…
I won’t say much about the colleges because, well, we’ve only seen two, and in the next two years my daughter could change her mind a million times. But I did want to talk about the process…It was such a learning experience for me…I learned a lot about this process, about myself, about God, and a little more about my daughter…I learned that this process does not have to be scary. This next phase need not be any more worrisome than this phase is. This process is so much less stressful than I thought it would be (until I get the first bill, of course). God has my girl in His hand. She is seeking Him. I am a director and mentor, but God is the CEO.
I was proud that my daughter handled all of the appointments and even asked questions, as she was simultaneously bombarded with information. She knows what she is looking for, and it has nothing to do with legalism. She wants to go where the students are on fire for the Lord, not where there is a checklist of things that mean you are engaging in the Christian life on campus.
I do not know where we are headed in this process, but I do know that I need to continue to be consulting God as we go, not the “experts” in the field so much. They obviously have their place, and can give information and perspective, but God, He has control.
I do have some “Mom-worries” as we travel this road…what if she’s not ready? What if she can’t keep up? What if she loses her passion for her faith? What if her grades drop and we can’t afford the school she wants after all? What is she isn’t passionate about anything, and can’t decide what to study? What if she’s not all that smart after all? What if she won’t engage with others and is lonely? What if her faith becomes rote and legalistic?
Essentially, in this phase of her life, we begin passing the authority to God. She is responsible to Him. Not that we are completely “hands off” at this point, but we need to send her to One who knows her best. Do I make this sound too easy? It’s not. I am wrestling. I want to take control. I want to make it work out my way. I want to spout my opinions and make her take them as her own.
But God calls me slightly, just slightly, a few steps away…a few steps off center…He reminds me of His love for her and of my responsibility to be what she needs in this next phase…and hopefully, I’ll learn what that is as I travel a new road…but I’m not alone–and I’m learning that sometimes that’s all I need to know…
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