Three days ago we started school. This is Dax on day one...
This is Lily...
See a difference?
For two days we have been smiling and chatting up school as we dress our six year old and he yells, "I'm not going!" School is "Boring, Lame, and Dumb!" We haven't argued with him, we simply move forward repeating how school is important and full of great adventures. We walk through the motions. We coerce, we buckle into the van, we drive, we coerce some more,all the while still telling him what a great day this can be. He stops at each threshold, crosses his arms and repeats "I'm not going!"
for the last two days I have kissed him, hugged him, and left him standing behind his chair in his classroom.
I come home praying for him and for his sweet brand new teacher. Then I call my mom and relive the morning wondering what I'm doing wrong. She assures me I'm doing just the right thing for Dax and she prays for him (and I'm sure for me too).
I'm not used to this. I've been blessed with 9 years of this...
Lily loves school. Lily loves school shopping. She is giddy at the thought of school supplies, schedules, locker decorating, and bells ringing. We have come home early from vacation for the posting of the class lists! This year Dax told me to run on up and see who his teacher was, he really had no urge to go, nor did he really care all that much. He was just happy his teacher was pretty
... is this a boy thing?
This morning Lily convinced Dax to put on his clothes before I was even out of the nursery. She then helped him get breakfast and came to report that although he was dressed and fed, he was still certain he was not going. I thanked her profusely, at least Mike wouldn't have to dress him by force this morning, and sent her on her merry way to school.
Juliet was awake and chipper earlier than usual this morning so we were having our singing and playing time a bit early. The song that came out of my mouth was one from Bible School this year. "I have a maker...he formed my heart..." somehow I couldn't remember the words so I called Dax to come "help Juliet". That is one of those things that this big brother can't refuse! He came up and I told him how excited I was to see he was dressed. He smiled at me and said "yeah, Lily made me, but I'm still not going to school". Juliet giggled at him and he giggled right back, telling her, as he does every morning, just how beautiful she is. I explained our problem with the song lyrics and he began to sing...
I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began, my life was in His hands
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He knows each tear I cry
and hears me when I call.
So, yes, I was a little teary when I joined in. Juliet grinned from ear to ear. So did Dax. He then started singing...
This is the Day you have made we will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day...
I started laughing, I asked him who made the day in that song. He looked at me like I was a little nuts and said "God". I shared with him that God did form His heart, he knew before time began that he would be in the 1st grade in this class with these kids and he knew that it would be hard at first. He looked at me with this deep smile and said "He did?'" I brushed his cheek, "yes, and he sees your tears, and hears and your voice, he put you just where you are. He made this day and it's going to be a good one!" His eyes just glowed and with the softest little mutter of a voice he said "but I'm still not going to school". I just smiled, because I could hear the guard being let down.
We packed his lunch. He put on his shoes. He walked all by his lonesome out to the van, buckled in, and asked to hear church songs, which he sang all the way to school. As we pulled around the circle drive one of his best buddies was walking up the walk with his mom. Being this particular family, I have a feeling God placed them right there. As he got out of the van, with a grin he looked back and said, "I'm only doing this today, well and tomorrow so I can choose dinner tomorrow night".
Two days is better than none, little guy, and after this morning I've had a little reminder that I cannot do it alone, I am not in control and neither are you....
You have a maker, and He formed your heart, even before time began you were in His hands.
