It’s a strange title for a blog, isn’t it?  I debated what to call this, but, ironically, it’s just exactly that.  Let me explain. 

My daughter, Grace, had a terrible first year of High School.  Like, the worst.  Her Freshman experience was met with stress, anxiety, challenges, and many tears. The same private school we had been at for 17 years that was the perfect fit for our son, was not panning out as successful for our daughter.  We prayed for a solution and one came in the form of a completely different kind of school altogether.  It was a hybrid of Homeschooling and Running Start.  She wouldn’t be at school five days a week as is typical.  She would have to be self-motivated in her work and taking some college courses as a Sophomore in High School.  We would have to keep track of her credits and transcripts.  Homeschool has never been on my radar, so I was very reluctant.

 We attended the informational meetings at the new school and prayed as a family for next steps.  Grace was thoroughly on board with this revision in her education and enthusiastic at the thought of a shift in learning techniques.  At the dinner table one night as we discussed the pros and cons of this massive change in her student career, Grace just looked at me and her dad and said, “Mom and Dad, why not?”  Peter and I looked at each other and thought, yeah, why not? What was really keeping us from jumping in with both feet? 

 Well, it came down to change.  We were so used to how things worked with the school Grace had been at since preschool and couldn’t fathom anything deviating from what we already knew.  It was the unfamiliarity that we feared.  The unknowns.  We would have to learn a whole new way of schooling, a new system, a new building, new teachers, and new parents.  What had been our tight-knit group of families and friends over the past 17 years at Cedar Park Christian School would come to a screeching halt.  Peter and I were leery of what this change would mean for us, not just Grace.  This would affect the many years we put into serving at this school, growing close with the faculty and staff, and the other parents we fostered deep friendships with and loved our children as their own.  So, when our daughter looked us in the eyes and said, “why not,” we really didn’t have a good answer to give her.  Honestly, if fear was the only reason, well, then it wasn’t a good enough answer. So, we withdrew Grace from Cedar Park and signed her up for the Co-op. 

 When Grace prayed if this new school was where He would have her, what she heard from her Lord was a “Yes.”  Grace had the courage to make the change.  He told her He would be with her through this transition.  He would equip her with what she needed and that, perhaps, this was what would afford her a wonderful rest of her High School years.  Selfishly, what Peter and I wanted to hear was a “No” because it was safe and comfortable to stay where we were.  But, deep down, what was more important was Grace’s happiness and a place for her to thrive.  Even though our hope was to remain at Cedar Park for the last three years of High School, God told us “No,” because He had something better for us.  Change can be scary, but stepping out in faith means we get to experience Him in new ways.  He will show up, our Walk with Him will be seasoned, and our faith in Him strengthened.  So often we remain complacent in our humdrum ways.  Change takes us out of our comfort zone and into a place of complete dependence on Him, not ourselves. 

So, as I prepared for my first parent meeting at the new school, I walked in not knowing a soul or what classroom to go to.  The funny thing about this is that if I ever have a nightmare, it is always this same scenario.  It is my first day of school and I don’t have my schedule.  I don’t know anyone and have no idea where I am supposed to go.  It probably stems from the fact that as a child, my father’s job moved us around quite a bit.  I was always the new student in a new town.  It didn’t help that I was super shy, so every time it was the first day of school, I would cry to my mom, fear would creep in, and I would be wrecked.  So, here I was, reliving my childhood and being the new student again, or should I say, new parent this time.  But you know what?  Other mothers realizing that I was new made their way over to me.  They introduced themselves and made me feel welcome.  I met the teachers, toured the classrooms, figured out Grace’s schedule, and after three hours of an overload of information, I left feeling relieved.  It was a lot to take in, but God walked next to me that day.  I wasn’t alone.

As we prepare for Grace to start school in the next couple of weeks at a new place, my perspective has shifted.  What was once met with fear and uncertainty is now replaced with excitement.  We are headed into a new season for us all, but it’s going to be okay.  I am so proud of my daughter for conquering fear and for being willing to modify her surroundings.  She could have stayed and suffered or she could venture out and revamp a better scenario for her style of learning.  I am amazed by her tenaciousness and bravery, and I look forward to seeing how God uses her in this new space.  And where He can use me in this new season, as well.  At 55, I am still learning, and sometimes it takes my sweet daughter to teach me things.  I have to be open to that.

So, when God gives our children a resounding “Yes,” don’t be quick to dismiss it.  Sometimes we just have to say, “yeah, why not,” and take the leap.