Is it that time already??

School starts today.

In less than an hour, they will both board a bus to the High School.

Today, they embark on a new season of classes and homework, of football games, of friends and opportunities and choices. They seek independence, yet the glue is still drying between us as a family.

For kids raised outside their family of origin, or in a family with significant trauma or dysfunction, it’s harder to grow the bonds of trust and to learn to rely on others. It’s harder for them to understand the balance of love and authority. It’s harder to grasp the trust that lies within teamwork.

Our family is lucky. Blessed. Our girls have both experienced deep hurts and loss, but they know the love and grace of Jesus. It’s difficult for them to fully understand the depth of God’s love, or the extent to which He is there for us, but if we’re honest with ourselves, who among us truly gets that? Not many.

So 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…..