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Topic: Valley (08/10/06)
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TITLE: Waiting for Those Life Changing Letters | Previous Challenge Entry
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08/12/06 -
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Waiting for college acceptance letters to start arriving. After all, every other high school senior in the world (not), at least in my daughter’s entire high school (still not), seems to have arrived by now. We try to only check the websites 20 times a day. What else can we do? She’s worked as diligently as she could, taken all of those torturous SAT tests, sent in the applications on time, prayed for God’s guidance throughout the process.
And we wait. It seems to get harder as we get closer to the moment of decision. Meredith seems restless and anxious. Cranky, too. She had a meltdown yesterday. She locked herself in the laundry room, where our computer is, worked on homework, and wasn’t interested in engaging in conversation. Finally, after letting her remain reclusive for most of the afternoon, I went to the computer in my office to Instant Message her.
SSFisher: Why are you in such a crabby mood?
Meredith: I’m so stressed out, mom, and i have so much on my mind and I’m freaking out about college
SSFisher: So what is the exact reason you're stressed? Because you haven't heard from colleges?
Meredith: YES!!
SSFisher: Do you realize that you have six colleges to hear from?
Meredith: it’s just everyone now knows where they’re going and all my friends got into college already!!!
Meredith: and i don’t even know
SSFisher: You are going to have too many choices.
Meredith: i dunno...i’m just nervous and that’s all anyone talks about right now and all of my friends already got in and i just want to know. I’m just scared of next year ...i just wanna hear back. i hate this waiting period. it has made me so stressed and I’m sorry I’m being rude. i know i have been it’s just me and i take it out on u cause ur always there and i don’t want my friends to hate me
SSFisher: So whenever you start listening to your friends’ choices, you get panicky about college and feel left out and “lesser than.”
Meredith: exactly
SSFisher: And whenever you get your focus back on the right place, you feel calm and hopeful. Meredith: yes
SSFisher: You know the Bible story about Jesus walking on the water, right?
Meredith: yes
SSFisher: During the night Jesus went out to the disciples, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. But Jesus immediately said to them, "Take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," Jesus said. Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,“ he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down (Matthew 14:25-31).
SSFisher: What caused Peter to sink?
Meredith: he took his eyes off jesus
Meredith: and was afraid
SSFisher: Right. He saw the wind. He looked at the circumstances surrounding him. They didn't make sense and he panicked, even though he had been walking safely toward Jesus. Same thing with you right now. If you look at the wind, you start to sink. If you remain looking at Christ, remembering that your future is in His hands, then you'll be strong and steady.
Meredith: i know...
SSFisher: So you just don't know what the outcome of the colleges will be...for now, it is in God's hands.
Meredith: i know...i just need to remember that...i hope everything works out
SSFisher: Look at the response Jesus gave to Peter after bailing him out of the sea: “Why did you doubt?” And then it says that the wind died down. Everything worked out. And it will for you, too, Mer. I love you.
Meredith: i Iove you too, mom
That night, I thanked God for the inspiration to use technology to speak His truth to Meredith. And for reminding me that when I see the wind and get distracted, to keep my focus on Jesus and His promises.
Moms need to remember that just as much as kids do.
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