Changing the World, but first Preschool

Written by Ivy | 07 September 2011

I thought I would be teary eyed as I dropped Speedy off for his first day of preschool. I thought I would cry in the car like I did when he was a baby and I had to leave him a daycare. I thought I would dread the day when my little boy was grown up just enough to stand on his own two feet, away from the watchful heart of his mother.

As you can tell, I've thought a lot about this day.

But as I hugged him goodbye and watched him make his way across the room to the one child crying for his mother, I started to know how I would feel during the firsts of life to come. I watched him follow his teacher, who was making her way to comfort the boy, then I heard my son say, "It's okay. I'll play with you. Everything is going to be okay."

My eyes filled with tears, not because I was sad that he was leaving my side, but because I could see how awesome a future he had waiting for him.

On the way home, I thought about why I wasn't so upset to drop him off. I was so proud of this day. I've been looking forward to it. Let's face it, you can't fight time. They are going to grow up, so you might as well embrace it. But today, I learned a lot more than just that. I learned that I'm just as anxious to see him grow up, as he is. I am just so proud of the young man he is going to to be. It may seem like I'm jumping ahead of myself, he is only 4, but I know without a doubt that he is growing up to be an amazing person. I don't want time to move faster than it already is, but it makes me smile to think about his future.

His nightly prayers predict so much:

"God, help me change the world."

"God, I love you. Thank you for a great tomorrow."

"God, help me do great things."

Of course he still shows his age by asking God to make it snow in September or help him find a lost toy, but I still see his heart when he tries to soothe a crying friend and thanks God for every small thing he has. I know, without a doubt, that this kid, somehow, someway, will truly change the world.

My prayer every night is that he'll keep that fire burning brightly. I do believe in the power of prayer, especially steadfast prayer. That's why I pray over him every night. But when he asked God to help him change the world, my own prayers for safety and kindness transformed... actually my whole prayer life transformed.

I think Angela Schwindt, a homeschooling mom once published in Reader's Digest, said is best: "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."

For Speedy, it's about faith. He's helped me put my own faith in perspective.

I can't wait to sit back and watch the amazing firsts to come.