Our son was jumping-up-and-down excited for his first day of kindergarten.
We had talked up the joys of education from the time he was learning to walk. Our house was full of books, crayons, pencils and paper. His big sister enjoyed playing school with him and teaching him all that she learned. We said he’d make new friends and that his teacher was awesome (which she was).
As the time grew closer, we guided him through the steps … getting from the house to the bus, getting on the bus, getting off the bus. All the preparing-for-school stuff.
Parents are naturally apprehensive about that first big day – and although we were fairly calm, we also realized that because our son is legally blind, there would be additional challenges. He’s smart and we knew he’d do well once he felt comfortable in his surroundings, but we wanted him to feel ready.
And then, the night before the new year was to begin … (his clothes were on the chair, his backpack ready) we learned that the teachers went on strike and the launch date for the new school year was pushed up indefinitely.
Life is uncertain. Things happen. Cars break down. People get sick. The water pipes burst. Teachers go on strike. Sometimes those events affect out kids and, as a parent, that can be hard.
Part of our kid-training is teaching them that even the best preparations can sometimes fall apart.
Yes, we did promise we’d go to the ballgame, but the game is cancelled because of rain.
Yes, Grandma was supposed to visit, but she broke her leg and can’t come.
Yes, school was supposed to start tomorrow, but the teachers are on strike (not an easy circumstance to explain to a five-year-old).
In Proverbs 27:1 we read: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. James echoes that thought in the last few verses of chapter 4. Human plans often get crushed.
We need to lovingly teach our children that life doesn’t always happen the way we plan. Dad and Mom (and other trusted people) can make promises that they truly mean to keep, but things happen and things change. That’s part of life. Yes, sometimes those broken promises can result in disappointment, but it doesn’t mean that Dad or Mom don’t care. Even Dad and Mom face situations where someone needs to break a promise. (How do we react when our careful preparation falls apart? Our children watch us.)
At the same time that we teach our children to face broken promises and changed plans, we also need to teach them that God does NOT break promises. He is omniscient. He does know what will happen tomorrow. What He promises will definitely happen.
For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness (Psalm 33:4)
