Coach Mom Newsletter - Sept 2012
Cried lately? If you
are a mom I bet you have. August can be an
emotional month. As school starts, we have
to gather school supplies and clothes, fill
out forms for school, register kids for team
sports, and coordinate new schedules. But we
also deal with the stark reminder that our
children are getting older and are one year
closer to leaving home. Although that is
exactly what we want them to do – grow up
and prepare for their future when they will
be independent of us - it doesn’t mean it
won’t be hard when they do it.
Because we just
experienced packing up our oldest child and
moving him to college, my heart is
especially tuned into that right now. I
recently heard something on the radio that
has moved me to action concerning
encouraging those who have just graduated
from high school and gone to college. Drs.
Kara Powell and Chap Clark, authors of the
book Sticky Faith, said decisions
made in the first four days of college set
the pattern for their next four years. They
said many times parents try to use self
restraint and "give them space" by not
contacting their children the first days and
weeks of college, but in fact they could use
the encouragement at
this pivotal time in their lives. They
urged parents to be
in touch every day those first weeks in some
way -- a text, a 3 minute conversation by
phone, a letter, etc.
I am thankful to have
learned this, and it has motivated
me to not only encourage my own son, but
many of his friends. In the last two weeks I
sent cards to fifteen college freshmen
friends, and messaged a number more on
Facebook. In the cards I enclosed scriptures
written in calligraphy -- I’m hoping those
new bulletin boards will have some room for
the Truth to be seen daily. The notes I
wrote weren’t necessarily long, but I let
them know I am praying for them and reminded
them of character qualities I see in them. I
also told them I know God has great things
planned for them.
To keep myself
organized in sending regular encouragement,
I made a spreadsheet named “college freshmen
2012”. On it I entered each student’s school
address, email, and cell phone number. I
also have a column where I can list the
dates I contacted them and the scriptures I
sent.
You may not have a
child who is a college freshman this year,
but do you know any? Do you have a niece or
nephew, a sibling, or friend’s son or
daughter that you might encourage? In the
radio interview,
Focus
on the Family President Jim Daly shared
that an older lady in his church sent him an
encouraging card the first week of school
and it stayed on his bulletin board until he
moved out of his dorm room that May. You
never know what an impact an encouraging
note might have even on just an
acquaintance.
You missed the four-day
window, you say? The first semester is just
getting geared up at most colleges – why not
seek out that address and write the note
today? Can’t think of anyone in your life
who is in their first year of college? I
know someone. Email me and I will send you
my son’s address. And, for those of you out
there who know a freshman who could use some
encouraging, send their addresses to me and
I will add them to my spreadsheet!
I believe our
encouragement towards and prayers for these
students will reap godly decisions, and
impact the next generation for the Kingdom.
Bless you and yours for a great school year!
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:25
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Wonder how Brenna fared the college drop-off
of her oldest son?
Read
her latest post on the blog:
First Son Takes Flight.
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Thank you to the 56 children who attended
Brenna’s summer drawing camps!
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