March 28, 2013

Psalm 143:8
Let me hear of your steadfast love
in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Growing up brings so many challenges; some small, some big, and some that seem like facing a giant.  To those who have journeyed through to the other side of their giant, looking back, it doesn't seem so ominous.  They move forward to face new challenges and new giants.

Within our preschool, our three-year-old class begins the challenge of eating lunch independently.  They learn to open their own water bottles, open their own lunch containers, use a spoon or fork, and clean up when they are finished.  These are giants to a young child and milestones which adults have long mastered and forgotten.

When we first begin practicing independent lunch skills, these precious little ones look with wide eyes and want to know why you aren't doing these task for them with questions like, "You've done it for me before, why won't you help me now?"  As teachers of young children, we know it's time for them to move forward in this journey called "growing up."  We are right beside them, supporting them and guiding them as they have need.  We know we won't always be there beside them to open those containers.  We want to enable them to do these tasks on their own so they can move forward to new challenges as they grow into the people God needs them to be.

There are many times as we "grow up" that we don't understand the hardships we face with certain challenges; small ones, big ones, giants.  We look up at our Heavenly Father and say, "You've done this for me before.  Why aren't you doing anything now?"

He's right there beside us, supporting us, guiding us, loving us.  He knows it's time for us to grow up.  He needs us to trust Him.  He needs us to trust in His intense love for us.  He needs us to remember His Son.

Jesus told us that He would be with us always, even to the end of the age.  We don't need to be afraid or wonder where He is.  We are growing up under His watchful eye into the people He needs us to be.

~Mylinda Milley

Preschool Director

Readings

Jeremiah 20:7-11

Psalms 102 or 142, 143

1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 11:27-32

John 17:1-11 (12-26)