School Prayer List

Good Wednesday morning!

As promised, I've added pictures of the Splash Pad to the Gallery. Put them with the park picture I added earlier, and you've got HOURS and HOURS of fun!

REMINDER - Arby's has a free sandwich with the purchase of a soft drink today. Don't forget!

After writing Monday about having a different outlook on Austin's imminent departure, I rode by our church sign yesterday morning on the way to volleyball practice. Imagine my surprise when I saw Proverbs 12:26 on the sign. "Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad." The pharmacy ought to put that one on the bottle of my anxiety medication!

I had an epiphany (really good word) yesterday, too. After listening to the speakers during college orientation use words and phrases like "let go," "time to experiment," "helicopter (hoovering) mothers," and "allow them to experience diversity," I am more convinced than ever that... Well, they're not the boss of me! I've been Austin's mom 18+ years and Mike's been his dad for the same amount of time. The speakers at school orientation don't KNOW him. Mike and I KNOW him. And God, his Heavenly Father, REALLY, REALLY KNOWS him.

I have no intention of Austin being a "mama's boy" or being unable to survive living on his own. Never have, never will. (That would reflect badly on me as his mother, and if you've known me for a second, you know I don't like things to reflect badly on me... EVER.)

What do I want for Austin when I think of his college adventure? "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6. I want him to walk on the campus of JSU and be a 6'4" giant salt shaker.

Do I want anything else for Austin? Yes. Yes, I do. "Let your light shine before me in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16. When he's not being a 6'4" giant salt shaker, I would like for him to be a 6'4" giant light post in the middle of the JSU quad.

So for all the people out there who think it's "hoovering" to pray for, listen to, laugh with, talk to, visit with or just "be there for" your college-age child, then watch out. I'm a "hoovering helicopter."

But for those of us who truly know our kids, value our relationships with them, respect their need to grow up and want to see them succeed while seeking God's perfect plan for their lives... Well, we're just moms, aren't we?

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.

That's what I want for Austin. That's what I want for all of our kids.

School Prayer List

This will be a new Seasonal Tradition for our family. I'm starting a First Semester College Freshman Prayer Chart today. Every college freshman I know will go on this prayer chart. For the first semester of college, I will pray for each of them by name every morning. If I don't know of specific prayer needs for that student, I will pray for safety, wisdom, strength to fight temptations, etc. For each student I know who does have specific needs, those will be written beside their name.

By the end of the first semester, I will make an effort to talk with that student or student's parents to see how they are adjusting to college life and all that goes with it. If the student is doing fine, adjusting well, enjoying their new adventure, etc., I will put an "X" by that name as an answered prayer. If not, I'll just keep on praying!

My list is going to be pretty long this year, but I'm looking forward to starting my newest Seasonal Tradition (TODAY). (I'm even buying a special notebook to use as a prayer journal... college ruled! Get it?)

And it wouldn't be a tradition if I didn't do it next year... and the next. Whether I personally have a college freshman or not is irrelevant. These young men and women need to be bathed in prayer!

Have a wonderful Wednesday. Tomorrow's date is for your college student and you. A much needed date with hopefully, a very productive result.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.