New school

I sent my son to a new school today. The old farm pickup just rumbled down the street as I waved good bye from the porch. Jeff and Josiah are headed out to the farmland early this morning - to deliver Josiah to Pratum by 7:45. This is a transition that has been in the works all summer. I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit and began exploring other options for school for Josiah. His first school was good, and he gained a lot there, and it felt like it was time to move on.

So he's headed to Pratum, a little three room school house in the countryside with less than 80 students. He'll be in a classroom that 7 of his cousins have been in before him, a class for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. It's affectionately called "The Middle Room" by the Pratum Community. And community is what it's all about. I have been so impressed over the years with the families, kids and staff involved in this little, power house, school.

As Josiah eagerly sorted his school supplies last night and packed them in his very heavy backpack, he was almost giddy with excitement. And that's when I started to grow nervous. "Oh Lord, please let this boy approach new friends with humility and kindness. Help him fit in. . . " Truth be told, all the fears and rejections of my grade school years were niggling at the edges of my heart - and I longed to help him have the social common sense to know how to relate to others. But this is something he has to do himself, and besides, he doesn't need the pressures of my past - he can walk in the freedom of who God made him to be.

Praying in a small three person circle in the kitchen this morning, listening to my husband bless my son, I had the distinct sense that this is good. So why am I crying?