Spare Change

Last night marked the beginning of a new step in the Cracraft family.  As I have mentioned over the past couple of weeks, the Lord has been working on our family a great deal, and in ME in particular.  He has been calling us to make some changes in the way we live, where we go, and what we do.  Last night was the start of one such change. 

Over the course of the past several months, Tara and I have really struggled with a decision on whether to continue placing Colby into the local Christian Academy.  He went to preschool last year and the experience was tremendous.  We have some of our best friends working at the school and we know many of the teachers. If asked a year ago, it would have been a sure bet that Colby was going to continue there for the foreseeing future.  If we could afford it, why wouldn’t we?

But, as the spring and summer rolled along, both Tara and I started to wonder if God wasn’t calling us to make a change in our plans.  We were hesitant to commit to making the change and even had Colby’s spot at the Academy saved.  He was set to have an unbelievable teacher and his class would include a best friend and many of his Preschool buddies.

But the Lord keep planting that seed, and so we started considering it more and more.  We started asking Colby what he thought.  He kept saying, “Let’s try out the new school.”  We kept asking, are you sure.  Colby kept saying, “Yes.”  So last week, while I was in Honduras, Colby and Tara went over to the local public school and we signed hiim up.  This Tuesday he then went back and had a “trial” run, which he came home excited about.  One last time, “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to your old school?  With Noah?  Where Mrs. Missy is?…..”Nope Dad.”

So last night, our entire family (Kallee thinks she is going to school too….) headed over to the “Open House.”  We meet our new teacher, Mrs. Cross (we believe it is the Lord confirming to us) and Colby showed us the library, gym, playground, cafeteria, and theater!  Colby seemed pretty fine about it all, but I can tell you that I was struggling a little.  The dynamic of walking into that building was just different.  Gone were many of the familiar faces (we only know one teacher and about 5 people we saw last night).  And the faces looked different.  They didn’t greet you with a happy “hello.”  Instead, many avoided conversation.  Many were in a hurry to drop off supplies and head home.  Some looked unhappy.  The view was different too.  No more bible verse’s on each classroom wall.  No more cross’s to be found.  It was just different.

As I jumped back into the truck, Tara looked over and asked, “Are you okay?”  I think we were both taken back at how different that hour had felt, and I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t thinking about the Academy.  Thinking about the safety of knowing Colby’s teacher.  The comfort of knowing he will be taught God’s Word.  The peace of mind of knowing he will be in smaller classrooms.  

But these were the exact reason’s God was highlighting to us for a change.  We were pretty comfortable. Too comfortable.  And honestly, I was taking a easier way of raising Colby.  One where I didn’t have to spend as much time with him in the bible.  One where I didn’t have to work on memorizing bible verses with him.  One where I didn’t actually have to “train him up in the ways of the Lord.” 

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This summer, our VBS at Hope was called “The Unforgettable Journey.”  Our bible verse was Isaiah 31:21 and we learned about the courage, faith, and the truth of being on the Journey God has for you life.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”                                                                   Isaiah 31:21

The more the Lord has spoke to me this summer, the more I wondered if I had had to show much courage, exercise my faith, or rely on the truth of His promises.  I knew I wanted to be on an unforgettable journey, but was I really listening to His voice?   And were the decisions I made affecting the life that my family were living?

And so last week, we made the decision.  Colby is the one who will have to go through the most change, but he needs to learn that he can rely on the Lord.  He can have the courage of Esther or the faith like David.  Tara and I will have to adapt as well.  We now how a school full of teachers and families who we need to invest in.  But we can rely on the truth of God’s promises.

Like I said earlier, God is speaking to our family in many ways.  Please don’t read this and think we are trying to impress our lifestyle on you or your family.  This is what God is calling us to do.  He is calling everyone to make changes, and our prayer is that whatever he is calling you to do, that you will be obedient.  Also don’t read this and believe that we think the Christian Academy is not adequate.  We loved the academy and the people that fill it.  Kallee will be in preschool in a couple years and we fully expect Mrs. Doolin to be teaching her!  Again, this was God’s plan for our family.

We just ask that you pray for us.  Pray that Colby steps in to school on Monday confident.  Pray that Tara and I can disciple Colby and that he can see the needs of those around him.  Andy pray that we use this opportunity to be mission minded.

God Bless, Bo