Martin Price

Change

Martin Price has some good instruction on how we should approach change and how we can help our children.

So it's that time of year where our children have big changes. New school year, new teacher, new rules, new expectations, new possibilities and new demands. New fears, new body changes just about anything that can change is likely to be changing for most of our children. Even the one place that should be remain stable (the home) may not be at this time.

The excitement of the year ahead may actually fill them with dread, SATS, new schools, and moving on…..or simply the constant year after year of change and the uncertainty of what is to come.

As adults on the whole we don't face these sorts of constant change or if we do it is often by our own choice. We may choose to change jobs, the place we live our family set up. We often don't like the idea of changing things to the point that some won’t even change their energy supplier even if it could save them £100’s, change is often coupled with apprehension.

Every year Emma and I get to go into the same schools seeing many of the same children, the new reception children getting to know us, the new year 6 taking their place on the coveted benches at the back of the hall, being the biggest and feeling so important. However it always surprises me at how so many seem not to be settled. Not sure of what to expect or what is to come.

So no matter what area you might minister into with children you will be facing children that have some level of anxiety as to what is to come. Hebrews 13 gives some good instruction on how we should approach change and how we can help our children.

v1 Keep on loving one another. So simple but we can become complacent, let’s make a really conscious decision to show our children how much we love them. Maybe get them a little something that they can keep in their pencil case or pocket that just reminds them that someone is thinking and praying for them.

v5-6 (I know it’s about money) but God said 'never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' (I don't think God meant this only when it comes to our possessions) The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Do our children truly know that God will never leave them and that as they face these changes that He is our helper? What are we doing to make sure that his is a reality and do we need to be making sure as they return that they know this for themselves?

v8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever. The God that got them through this past year is the same God that will go with them into the next year and He will see them through it.

As we at Inspire Schools prepare for a new academic year, our preparation starts spending time praying for all our children in all our schools. As we all start this new academic year of change let’s all up hold our children in prayer and acknowledge that this time of year for many holds great trepidation as well as great new opportunities.

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