This week we took our oldest daughter to college. It was a new experience for us; both exciting and weird. For those of you who have gone before us in this part of life, you might have a better word than weird. Unfortunately, I’m still in the process of processing at this time. Here’s what I do have so far…

• An empty room
• One less plate at the table
• One less car in the driveway
• Less clothes to wash
• One less body during family time

Seems pretty sad, right?

Then, I look at it from a different perspective…

• A new dorm room – new possibilities
• A new place to dine and meet new friends
• A new adventure awaiting of trips
• Learning to do life on her own and taking care of her own things
• One more body in a new family of friends and faculty at the college

Just because our story of five has taken a new course on the path of life doesn’t mean our story has ended. Our story is simply branching out to add more people and friends. New friends remind me there are more people out there who need to know Jesus. There are more people out there who know Jesus who are there to encourage and pray for our daughter.

What I love about Trevecca Nazarene University is the environment of the campus. It is centered around the whole person and not just academics. I can speak from experience as I went to a state school for my first two years before transferring to Trevecca for my last two. There was a stark difference between the professors and advisors from one school to another: namely the first telling me to put academics over church and the other telling me how to integrate the two.

I feel confident in knowing my daughter is in a place where she is free to ask questions and know those who work there have her best interest in mind. This knowledge allows me to move on much more easily. College can be hard and easy at the same time. Coming into your own person and owning who you are is something that doesn’t start in college; it just seems more pronounced during this time.

Even during the moving on from one phase to another, I’m reminded we each move on from things each and every day. We are all still learning how to own the person God created us to be. You can continue to pray for our family during this transition and I’ll continue to pray for all of you as we all transition from one thing to another. Love you!

Until next time…

© 2018 Susan M. Sims

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