A Word from Laura: Flunking Fall
“I don’t know how we’re going to do this fall. I really don’t. We’re so…”
My friend finished her text with an expletive appropriate for a working parent already overwhelmed with on-line schooling for her youngest two, upon finding out that her first-born’s college dorm is closing due to a covid outbreak. Not appropriate for a church-related email.
At our house Scott and I are coming out of denial that this fall would bring extra stress. Unable to find my battery-dead cell phone all morning, I felt like I was flunking life, when Scott brought my phone to me a few minutes ago. And told me it had been behind my laptop, at the desk where I had been sitting, the whole time!
If you feel like you are flunking life this fall, you are not alone. If you need pastoral permission to use a few good, age-appropriate expletives, go right ahead!
I’ve also asked myself what would happen if we didn’t have jobs in our house? What if our children were younger and needed more care, especially while we were working? What if we had a serious health condition or physical challenge, or faced eviction or deportation?
As Western’s pastor, I am aware of the challenges of talking about families with children in a congregation where a majority of us do not have children at home. This year, this month, however, we as a church need to lift up all those families in our congregation and communities. In the midst of the outrageousness of today’s social and political climate, we need to remember those who are struggling to support, feed, educate, nurture, clothe, provide WiFi, love, and protect the children in their care – and all while taking care of their own personal needs.
If you are a parent or caregiver of children, if you are pulling your hair in frustration, or using your words in ways you’d rather not, or feeling like you’re flunking fall and it’s not even Labor Day, Western wants to support you! You are not alone, and you don’t to be the perfect parent, especially not now. God knows how much you love your kids; God’s grace still abounds. (Thank goodness we don’t get graded on raising our children!)
But chances are you don’t have children at home. I hope you’ll take a moment to say a prayer for families, or send a “You can do this!” message to someone responsible for kids right now. I also invite you to consider how caring for all of our children is a moral issue, and how our society can improve our social safety net. No one caring for children should have to worry about eviction or deportation or how to put food on the table.
Most of all, remember Jesus’s own words and actions: “Let the children come to me.” Jesus wanted to make sure the disciples and those around knew his priorities: loving children! Even when we feel like we’re flunking, we may rest in the knowledge that loving children – all children – remains important in God’s eyes.
If you’re caring for children, remember you’re doing what’s important to God’s own heart. You can do this! And may you find that we’re all part of the village surrounding you, Laura