A Letter to my Kindergartener

A letter to my kindergartener,

The excitement of the summer has come and gone. Your little cheeks aren’t sun-kissed anymore and we began to prep for your exciting first year of kindergarten. You are such a big boy now and you’re so proud to have started school. So much anticipation leading up to your first day. The first time you would ride the bus, walk into your classroom, play on the playground with your new friends…all of these things you couldn’t wait to do. The mama bear in me wants to protect and shelter you. I wanted to take you to school each day and pick up but all you could talk about was riding the bus with your buddies in the neighborhood. I remember walking you to the bus stop that first morning and having butterflies in my stomach. Some nerves but mostly excitement for my blue-eyed, five-year-old who lives for adventure. You gave me a kiss and hug then off you ran to the bus that first morning and every morning since. You wave eagerly yelling “bye, mama” and “I love you”. I know there will come a day that those sweet moments will be no more. So for now, I will smother you with kisses and hugs before you run off to catch the big yellow bus as your brothers like to say.

I often imagined what life would be like once you arrived. How the years would play out. What milestones you would accomplish. Your first year of school hits and immediately the next twelve years flash before my eyes. We longed for you years before you were in our arms. God is so good in how he answers our prayers. I prayed years for a child and he blessed us beyond our wildest dreams with you. Then he went even further and blessed us two more times with your precious brothers. We have been blessed triple fold. You were and still are such a sweet blessing.

You were created and designed for incredible things, my son. You are young now but God is molding you to be an amazing man one day. I pray every day that he lead your Daddy and I to be the parents you boys need in this temporary home on earth. This world is a scary place but it is not our home. We will leave one day but the impact we can make while we’re here can be life-changing.

So here is my prayer for you, my sweet Harper Gray, as you embark on this new adventure.

Father- You continue to shower us with blessings. Thank you for healthy babies and your constant provision over our family. I ask that you surround Harper with a hedge of protection everywhere he goes. Help him learn to be patient as he’s in this new classroom setting with other kids.  Help him to pay attention, be respectful, and soak in all that there is to learn. Most importantly, remind him to be kind and loving to others as you call us to do. Make him brave and give him wisdom in all things but especially in situations where the call may not be so easy to make. Help him stand up for others when no one else will.

He’s so bright and has such a big heart. I continue to see his love for people and his curiosity for you grow, Father. I know you are molding him to become something incredible. He’s already made such an impact in our family but I know you have so much more for his life. Help him be open to your voice and direction as he grows, experiences new things, and meets new friends. Help us as parents to lead him well always pointing back to you. Thank you for choosing us as his parents. What a joy he brings. Use him in mighty ways as he begins this journey, God. Amen.