“JUST” two more weeks.  That’s all the time we have left until the first school-bell rings to usher in the 2014-15 school year.  I can almost hear parents saying to each other, “We only have two more weeks and then the kids are back in school – we can make it!”  The kids, well, they are saying, “We JUST have two more weeks until school.  Where did summer go?  Why do we have to go back so early?  What happened to school starting after Labor Day?”  (Yes – I do hear kids ask that question every year even though NONE of our current kids ever started school that late, at least not those who have lived around here during their schooling years….)

When I write, “JUST two more weeks,” I have a third perspective.  I simply can’t wait for the school year to begin because that will mean that we, as a school, finally get to put into action what we have been working on all summer.  And for some of us (like me!), I have been looking forward to the first day of school (AUGUST 11th!) since I accepted the call to WCCS on December 9th, 2013 – eight months and two days earlier!

It is a running joke in my family that I wake my kids up each morning with the simple words, “yay school.”  I really do!  Every morning.  I do so because I think so highly of the opportunity that my kids have to attend a Christian school where they are  taught by believing teachers who are called to intentionally point them to Christ in all that they do.  I have even texted my college sons with a “yeah school” message in the morning – not to wake them up but to just encourage them in the same way.  While I don’t yet have my sleepy kids replying “yeah school”, I do believe that they know what I mean when they sleepily reply, “oh dad!”

Well, in EXACTLY two weeks, I will show up at the Class of 2015 breakfast gathering that will happen the morning of the first day of school.  I expect I will see quite a few sleepy seniors, some of whom might not be ready to chant, “yay, school.”  But, after they have breakfast together, they will arrive on campus for their senior year and have the wonderful opportunity to have teachers and coaches and administrators pointing them to Christ all day, every day, believing that we “have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  I hope that you all can join with me in thinking, “YAY SCHOOL” when you think, “just two more weeks!”

 

It is hard to believe that my first official week in the office at Westminster Catawba Christian School is coming to a close.  It has been a tremendous week and I am more excited now than I was before.  I have known for several months now that this week would be a “big” one for me and my family.  To that end, I have been praying pretty diligently for months regarding the transition.  So many of those prayers have been answered – even beyond all that I could ask or imagine.  But, those are not the answers that have moved me the most as I look back on this week.

For months, I have been praying that the school faculty/staff, particularly those that I would work most closely with, would be welcoming and that we would “get off on the right foot.”  That prayer has been answered beyond what I could ask or imagine.  I have been praying that I would be able to build relationships with board members that I would partner with, and that has been wonderful as well.  I have even prayed that there would be opportunity to get to know WCCS families early in the year to really feel a part of the school family.  WOW – what a great family you are!  I am thankful for those answered prayers.  But…

There is a country music song that says that we should “thank God for unanswered prayers” (yes, this probably will give you another glimpse into more about who I am!).  Today, I am thanking God for “un-uttered” prayers.  Romans 8:26 says:  “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”  I was praying for those things that I thought would be best.  And, God answered.  But, HE has been particularly gracious in answering prayers that I never would have thought to pray!  Seemingly out of nowhere, a long-time friend from years gone by stopped by the office yesterday just to encourage me.  Two of my best friends, who were both college roommates, have reached out to me this week to assure me of their love and prayers.  Neighbors who live across the street from our new home stopped by after dinner the other night with a box of HOT Krispy Kreme doughnuts!  (I never thought to pray for daily doses of encouragement from those outside of the school!)  One of our out-going board members met with me to encourage me.  (I never thought to pray for those relationships!)  And, our genius-level Director of Admissions/Development, Mrs. Jane Wilson, came up with the idea to host a family lunch on the first day of school since it was a half-day.  (This reminded me how small my prayers really were – even after thinking I was asking a lot!)  AND, it is only Thursday!  I am so very thankful that there is a Spirit who helps us in our weakness and who prays for what we “ought” in “groanings too deep for words” when all we can do is pray what comes to us.

I  hope you are able to join me today in thanking God for answered prayers, even for unanswered prayers, as well as un-uttered prayers.  If you can relate, I would love to have you “Leave a reply” below with your example of an answer to an un-uttered prayer!