first day of school

I have a love/hate relationship with the first day of school. It's a beginning and an ending. I've blogged before about my internal struggle with changes...and it's another one of those hurdles in the year when I sometimes have to swallow the lump that forms in my throat when I think about our college kids moving back to dorm rooms & when I picture the kids who started our tween ministry now entering their first day of high school...how in the world did that happen?

Over this past summer, we've watched this special crew grow. What a gift it is in student ministry to have these special weeks with them. I am trying so hard not to take these moments with these tremendous young people for granted. It's a pretty amazing blessing to witness these young people falling in love with Jesus and allowing His love to transform their lives.

These summer weeks allow us to witness the intense friendships they are forming with one another. It also allows us to stand back and watch the ways they are peeling the layers of their hearts back towards the plan God has for them and His calling for them...right now!

So, a piece of me struggles to say goodbye to the days where school sports and midterms don't stand in the way of last minute lunches or longer summer hang out nights after vacation bible school. It's hard to let go of the weeks we venture off on mission trips and our students are cell phone free allowing them to connect with each other in special ways. It's hard to say goodbye to our college crew no matter if their entering their freshman year or junior year. We love having them home.

At the same time, I love to dream of what all God has in store for these sweet students in the weeks to come. I can't wait to see how He will use them as rays of sunshine to others in their schools. I am excited about the students we have yet to meet---and the way God will nudge us to reach others. I know there's a lot of growing and molding yet to come and a lot of sweet memories still ahead.

As summer slips a way a little sooner this year (thanks balanced calendar!), I'll try to let the hate aspect of the first day of school slip away and grab onto the joy in this next piece of the journey.

Happy First Day of School, Phao Crew! Ya'll are so loved!