Grape vines growing along the sidewalk on the way to my daughter’s school.
Reminds me that Jesus is Lord of the Vineyard and Lord of the Harvest.
(c) 2012 The Catholic Counselor Lady.
It’s that time of year again.
It’s that time of year again when kids are heading back to school. For many it is a day of firsts. For others, it is still a routine.There are those who are entering kindergarten and those who are beginning high school. Some have packed up and gone off to college. I have heard a few moms and dads even say that it is the best time of year. Others approach these events with tears. However, as the years pass the summers seem to accelerate and creep up on unsuspecting parents. One moment we are shedding the backpacks and disposing of tattered spiral notebooks and pencil nubs, and the next we are shopping for brand new leather closed-toe shoes. With every summer there are lists of things to get accomplished before fall. There are basements to clear out, gardens to plant, relatives to visit, vacations to experience, marathons to dream about, and time to spend with one another. But before we know it the warm days have passed and we have still yet to begin.
The days of the Mommy Mobile are numbered.
As a mother of teenagers, my nostalgia only increases with time. There have been times when I thought that the days of the “Mommy Mobile” would never end. We went from cars seats and diaper bags to fighting over the front seats and backpacks. Through down pours, road construction, blizzards, last-minute teacher conferences, Sunday night dioramas, and warm spring days, the family SUV blazed its trail to the school. Somewhere along the way all of the chauffeuring transitions from being a responsibility to being a great a privilege. Eventually kids start finding their own way.
Lord of the Vineyard.
I accompanied my daughter on her way to high school today. In the midst of stomach butterflies she was excited. “It’s okay, Mom, I know my way from here,” she said. “Well, I sure hope so,” I thought. I am still finding my way through life myself. A mother’s heart always looks down the road for her children. Upon leaving the schoolyard, I noticed some grape vines lining the sidewalk. It brought to my mind how Jesus is the Lord of the Vineyard. While our children are in school and even in life beyond, it is a constant prayer for their wellbeing and that they will bloom wherever they are planted.
Comfort on the journey of life.
Psalm 23 reminds us of the comfort and assurance available along the pathway of life. It is the same blessing that a parent would want for their children. The words are common ones but can be repeated in our hearts through both the challenging and the peaceful times. I remember learning the words when I was in high school myself, once upon a time. My daughter would ask, “Was that back in the days of the Black and White TV?” “It was just about then”, I would answer.
Psalm 23:
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures He gives me repose; Besides restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.