Back to school.

It’s quite a season in the life of a family. No matter where your kids attend school –in your home, your neighborhood or across town – there’s one common denominator in the “Back to School” season:

A lot of work!

School supplies, sign-ups, shoes, clothes, calendars and car pools – the job of a parent in this season can be overwhelming! But, lest we lose the forest for the trees, let me gently remind you – (even as I remind myself) that our main job may have less to do with getting all these “externals” in place and more to do with nurturing the “internals”….

Some of the best preparation we can give our kids for the new school year might be:

Not new clothes, but a renewed sense of self as we remind them that they are chosen by the God of the Universe to belong to HIM, clothed in righteousness, and that God loves them no matter what!

Not new school supplies, but a renewed recognition of what’s been supplied! In faith we can respond to our kid’s anxiety about the new school, or new friends as we say “Buddy, you’ve got what it takes! God is for you and with you and IN you – and we’re right here too!”

Not a growing list of things we will be doing FOR our kids this year, but a growing list of things they will be doing for themselves as we parent kids towards a growing maturity and the sense of personal responsibility that God intends.

And, as we prepare our children’s “insides” for the year ahead – let’s remember to prepare ours too. The world wants to define us as parents and people by how many sports our child plays or how many elite clubs or groups they are part of. But our Great God has a different definition. He has placed his seal on us – we are HIS children. The more secure we get in our identity in Christ – the more prepared we are to help our kids find their security in Him.

So – if the words “back to school” to you mean – A LOT of work – maybe that’s good! Maybe this IS our season to work, not for things that “moth and rust destroy” but for things that will last. Things internal and things eternal!

Libby Peterson serves as Director of Family Ministry at Bay Presbyterian Church and as Vice-President of Key Ministry’s Board of Directors. This blog was initially featured at The Family Tailor, where Libby regularly contributes, along with Hu Auburn of our Key Ministry staff.

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