Endings
I wrote this to mark the beginning of the 2011-12 school year:
…for this school year, for this day, my prayer is for two scared and excited girls to experience the amazing plans God has crafted just for them, to learn and grow into the amazing women God has formed them to be, and to rise above the distractions and temptations of culture to focus on God’s instruction for us…to love as Jesus loved, to give as Jesus gave, and to serve as Jesus served.
Guess that’s my prayer for all of us…
Today marks the end (for us anyway). The final finals. Goodbyes and “friends forever” and “keep in touch over the summer” will echo through the halls. Hugs will be exchanged.
Times have changed since I was high school…Social media sites make it easier to keep promises to stay in touch. To think of each other through the summer. On the other hand, Facebook makes it far easier for a misunderstanding to explode into a flame war. Published and archived for all involved to re-live the conflict and pick it apart and re-open the wounds.
My prayer for this summer:
As both girls grow older and earn the responsibility to make more of their own decisions, that they would invest their energy in avoiding drama and in building relationships both with people they can serve and influence as well as a few great girls that can influence them and help them continue to love God and grow into strong, secure women.
And as it was last fall, I guess that’s still my prayer for all us, too…
What are your goals for this summer? Leave a comment…
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
Great post, Christine.
Today’s my son’s last day and I am being very intentional about his Welcome to Summer party I’m planning. After reading this I realize in a new way how I need to be intentional about those 80 days of summer that follow. 
I love the idea of a “Welcome to Summer” party!
We normally mark the end of the school year by taking the girls out for a special dinner on the last day of school and i’m crushed (far more than they are) to be missing it…i’m on a business trip and don’t get home ’til tomorrow. But God knew what He was doing…Last night, Lena got a JOB OFFER…and she starts today! SO proud and excited for her!!!!
Great post. I love the prayer for the summer. We’ve still got a week to go, but the boys are very excited!
I bet…the girls have been pretty hyper for a couple weeks now. So glad finals are over!
I am scared, excited, and praying desperately for faith this summer. This is my first year teaching, and thus my first summer break out of college. It is also the summer where I plan to move overseas to teach for the next two years at a school for missionary kids….something I have dreamed of doing for several years now. But right now, on the last day of school, my life hangs in the balance….right now I have an awesome job, good pay, and the opportunity to return next year. Tomorrow I have no job, a visa that is MIA in a third world country…or lost in the mail somewhere in between, and the possibility that I might not actually recognize my dream this summer at all. So my goal for this summer is just simply to surrender and trust God that whatever His will is…that it would be done in His time and His way.
Wow, Abigail. it sounds like God has a lot of really amazing things in store for you! You’re definitely on the right track…His timing is perfect, even when it’s a lot different from what we want it to be! It truly sounds like you’re following His call, and when He wants us to do something, He will make the way clear! Praying for you!!
This is beautiful Christine!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!
Thanks, Jim. Trying to add a little bit of beauty to the world every now and then!