your child and college — Blog

My youngest son will be going to college this fall. He has been anxiously awaiting, preparing, and planning for this big day. There is one college he is particularly passionate about.

Last summer he went on a road trip with his oldest sister to tour the campus. It as everything he imagined it would be........and more.

All last week he anxiously awaited his acceptance letter. Everyday he checked the mailbox, and every day there was no letter.

And then it came.

This was not the letter we had all expected. He was not accepted. I was shocked. Even with the college's low acceptance rate, my son should have been a shoe in. He earned straight A's all through high school. He was in the top of his class. He was a school mediator, volunteered at church, did community service and wrote, directed, and acted in theater. He even held down a part time job. His college entrance SA was amazing! Even his English teacher cried when she read it. So, I was speechless. I didn't understand why he was not accepted.

Later that evening it occurred to me. When things just don't add up, when things just don't make sense, when your a shoe in for the job promotion, or the lender falls through at the last minute on your new house, God may have stepped in.

I told my son that sometimes what we want so badly, God doesn't want for us. What we can't see is that God has something better.

My favorite prayer, one that I have repeated many times is : "Lord, if I start to lose my hope today, remind me that your plans are better than my dreams."

God is still on the throne. He is still in control. He can open doors, and close them. Ultimately he has our best interests at heart, even when we can't see it or comprehend it.

I don't think this was much comfort to my son. We all want what we want. With age and experience comes wisdom. I have learned to trust God, because sometimes the best things are simply something we can't see from where we are at.