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Getting ready to see a child go off to college opens the floodgates of self-examination and historical review. What have I done and not done that could have made things better for her during the past eighteen years? How has living in our household prepared her for what she now goes out to face?Every time I hear about someone else's home life or read a story about what a family did regarding a) study habits, b) prayer or devotional life, c) family time, d) living space, or e) anything else, I start comparing it to my own history. Part of my personality makes me always see the shortcomings of my own ways. Of course, there have been real shortcomings. Some I could have done something about, and I others, probably not.
It's a time for thinking about what I hope can happen in the coming weeks to get us all ready for what is coming at the end of August. It's also a time for remembering the relationship changes but does not end when she moves away. And finally, it is a time for trusting grace and living in hope because of all that I cannot do for her.
5 comments:
Is she still planning to go to Oberlin? If she attends Peace while she's there, she'll have good spiritual guidance. We'll keep her in prayer.
See ya'll next week!
It was my son who went to Oberlin. Naomi is attending St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. Of course, you saw her last week in Berea.
Yep, and I asked her about this--I had not checked your blog for an answer before peace camp. She told me that she considered Oberlin "for about 5 minutes" before realizing how cold the winters would be. I am unfamiliar with St. Edwards, but I am sure that Naomi will do well wherever she goes. She told me that Katie Cook is making sure she finds a good church home in Austin. That's what these connections are all about!
Molly (at 12!) has wanted to be an attorney, politician, and eventually U.S. president since she was 5. She's already looking at colleges--wants a small-but-top-notch liberal arts college for her undergrad (looking at Berea if we remain financially strapped; also at the St. John's College because of its emphasis on the Great Books curriculum; and Earlham) and then has her law schools ranked in preferred order as Harvard, Yale, U of Virginia, and Vanderbilt!
At her age I didn't have a clue about colleges!
P.S.--Did you have as many reservations about Rita Brock's stuff as I did???
Have Molly learn about North Carolina Central University Law School. It has produced many outstanding public affairs lawyers. It is an HBC, and it is in Durham.
There are some good choices for churches in Austin. Naomi and I will talk this through further as the day approaches.
I hope I get a chance to hear the presentation by Rita Nakashima Brock, assuming it was taped. I always have to cut out some of the events to keep from overloading, and on Thursday I decided I would be stepping out after Vern Ratzliff to rest and do some other things. So I missed the morning session even after I found out it was a plenary. I did not even look at the program to see what was happening in the afternoon. So I missed her all around. I got a couple of rebukes for not being aware of her presentations. I suspect she does not follow a path similar to McClendon and Yoder.
I suspect she does not follow a path similar to McClendon and Yoder.
You suspect rightly.
I'm glad Naomi is open to hearing your input on Austin-area churches. Many folk her age resist such input from parents because they are anxious to make their own decisions. That's why I was glad to hear she was in conversation with Katie Cook--sometimes young folk are more receptive to stuff from non-parental adults. But you and Everly are well aware of that. :-)
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