Surviving Back to School

Around this time of the year, I have a lot of mixed emotions as I remember what the dreaded “Back to School!” rush felt like. Often, I think of a specific commercial (which has been on the air for what seems like decades) that portrays a dad doing some back to school shopping with a skip in his step to the theme music of “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” playing in the background. I also still get that feeling from my childhood of “What! Where did the summer go?” I’m reminded of the things that I used to look forward to when I went back to school; mainly sports and friends. I’m also reminded of the activities I knew I was going to have to do when school started back, whether I liked it or not, such as studying, homework, and semester projects. Having attended a public school, then being homeschooled for a little while, and then graduating from a Christian school, I feel like I can relate to whatever boat (or school) you find yourself in. So here is just a little advice on how to survive going back to school not just physically, but also spiritually

1. Enjoy the friendships – There is no doubt in my mind that one of the most exciting things about school is the lifelong friendships that are made. Recently, I was with one of my lifelong friends who I went to high school and college with. We reminisced about several memories from our past, and truly just enjoyed each others company. Don’t forget as you go back this year that Proverbs 18:24 states, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly”. Be a friend to everyone this year. Being best friends with someone doesn’t mean secluding yourself from everyone else, rather, it means including everyone else and still seeing that particular friendship rise above the others. But if you notice that isn’t all that Proverbs 18:24 says. The last part of the verse states, “…and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” I believe that’s talking about the Friend that will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). You might be thinking, “I’m homeschooled. I don’t see my friends except at church.” Young person, you’ve got a Friend that wants to spend as much time with you as you will let Him! Stay close to Christ! Learn about Him and learn from Him. He’s the best friend you’ll ever have!

2. Study hard – Academics are a large part of school whether you’re good at them or not. By no means am I saying everyone has to be the next Albert Einstein. But I do believe that, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Often times, I believe this applies to the “B” crowd as much as to anyone else. Don’t just coast on talent; practice character by studying hard! The Bible tells us in II Timothy 2:15 that each one of us is to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” Let me help you with something…it’s not just talking about school! In context, it’s talking about the Word of God. By the end of the school year, you ought not to have just grown in your knowledge of math, science, and whatever else you study, but you ought to have grown in your knowledge of the Bible! “Study to shew yourself approved unto God!”

3. Leave it all on the field – This phrase was repeated often during games and practice times while I was in high school. I remember another phrase that we would say as we finished out soccer practice with down-back-downs: “You don’t need any energy to go home!” Sometimes I wonder what holds back young people from serving God with all their heart now? I truly believe a lot of it has to do with the lie of the devil that you will have plenty of time to do that when you get older. Young person, let me encourage you, the last part of Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us why we should do everything with our might: “…for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” We ought to leave it all on the field of life because we don’t know how long we’ve got! Serve God with all your heart now, and you will more than survive going back to school…you will thrive!!!