What Now?

I remember almost a little over 10 years ago when my older daughter was born. The excitement and joy for all involved was almost overwhelming. I remember when Karen and I took her home, sat her on the bed in her car seat and asked each other, "What now?" Over the next 10 years there have been a ton of "what now" moments, especially when our second daughter was born.

As I sit here this morning, I am at another "what now" moment in my life. Tomorrow our girls will go off to school; Michaela to the fourth grade and Marissa to the second. They have been home schooled until now so this will a new experience for them and for my wife and myself. What I usually do during the "what now" moments is pray, so that is what I will do.

"God, as I come to you today I ask You to help me know what to do. You have entrusted Michaela and Marissa to me and I want to be faithful to You, to my wife, and to the girls. I want the absolute best for them, as I know you do as well. You have led us to send them to school, so help us have the strength to follow through. I have tried to teach them your ways, help them to remember those things as they encounter things and people that I will not be there to shelter them from. The hardest thing for me to do right now is to hold my children with an open hand, but I must so that You can mold them to accomplish the plan that You have for their lives. Father, I know You will you protect them, will you help me to believe that? Lord, I do not know what to do, as a Father, but I know you will guide. Tomorrow as the girls start school, will you guide them in everything they do. Don't let them be stricken by fear, but energized by Your peace. As we send them off tomorrow, may we celebrate tomorrow night Your goodness, provision, and peace."