Back2School 101

As the beginning of Summer approached, I imagined a season filled with rest, relaxation, and fun. You know, summertime vibes. But instead, I kept hearing the word "prepare" in my Spirit. At first, I wasn't thrilled about the idea, as thoughts of going back to school seemed silly because we just got out. However, I listened to God's clear message and decided to embrace it.

After a couple of weeks into my summer break, I realized that preparing for the Fall was precisely what God was requiring of me. So, I reflected on what I loved about this school year, what didn't go well, and what needed to change for the upcoming year. All the barriers to smooth mornings, the nights of rushing to bed due to late-night homework sessions, and the things I wished I had done better came to mind. While some of it is just the reality of four kids and life, a lot of these issues were rooted in being reactive instead of proactive.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, and letting the mom guilt playlist shuffle in my mind, I saw this as an invitation from God to evaluate and pivot. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I started researching the things I needed to make this school year better. This has more to do with mindset and systems than purchasing a bunch of stuff to "feel organized" for 10 days and then back to crazy town. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing tips, tricks, and purchases that I hope will make a difference this school year, and I hope it's helpful to you.

Last Sunday, God confirmed that I did in fact hear correctly in this season. It wasn't just my love of projects and supplies driving me. We kicked off a sermon series at The Gathering Church entitled "Back to School." Although the title may seem typical, I believe this series is going to equip us as families in a transformational way.

I encourage you to take some time and listen to this powerful sermon, especially if you are a parent or have influence over children. One of the most impactful points from the message was "You can't teach what you don't know," which drew a parallel between helping our kids in their educational and spiritual journeys.

Stay tuned for more content as we prepare for this school year.