First Grade...YES!

There was a little song I made up when I was a little girl as I anticipated going to first grade. It went like this:

"First grade never, first grade never
I like to go to school
But I don't like my friends
who don't play nice,
all around the town."
I sang this song to Emma probably a year ago and of course, she got a kick out of it and wanted to learn it. About a week ago, I asked her if she remembered my first grade never song and this is what she said, "yes, but I want to change the words." This is the song she came up with:
"First grade YES, first grade YES
I like to go to school
But I don't like my friend
who don't play nice
all around the town."

This one little word change tells me the world about Emma's attitude towards school. She's excited to be there, to make new friends and learn new things. She's much braver than I was, and for that I praise the Lord, because I remember many a shed tear over recess as I sat in the very spot my mom dropped me off, missing her in the pit of my stomach.As we drove to her first day of school today, we prayed. We prayed for God to remind Emma to do the right thing, even when others do the wrong thing, that she would be a light for Jesus to her teacher and her classmates, and I finished by praying for bravery and comfort if she feels sad or scared. After we had said "Amen", Emma informed me that she wouldn't be sad, but that she might be a little nervous and her tummy might hurt. We quickly added a prayer for her tummy not to hurt and that God would remind her that He's always with her, even when mommy and daddy are not. As I hugged her good-bye while she was sitting in her big girl desk, a surprising lump began to form in my throat. I thought I'd be okay today, we did this last year after all. But as I drove home I realized that it will never be easy to say good-bye to my children, for any reason under the sun. But I have to let them go or they will never learn how to lean on the God who never leaves them. These times apart are gifts because they teach both of us to trust the Lord with each other and our own hearts. They are little journeys out of the nest where they can encounter the world and then come home to process and learn and grow from what they've experienced. It is my prayer that some day, when the time comes for a more permanent flight from the nest, that each of our children will have genuine walks of their own where they depend on the Lord over anyone else. I pray that they will know how to encounter the sin in the world and the sin in their own hearts with the truth of God's word and the reality of His presence. Emma Grace, be courageous as you cling to your Savior at every turn! May this school year draw you closer to Him and may He equip your dad and I to teach you and point you to Him through every experience.

Love, Mommy