The phone call

Today I got the phone call no parent wants to get . . . from my son's teacher . . . then another from the assistant principal.  Apparently my son did something during reading time that is against the rules, thinking he was being funny, but it was not.  I believe it was harmless and just a 6 year old boy being a boy, however two other boys saw him do it, so the school must react with a punishment.  I understand the school has to cover their bases, but it is just so hard.  This particular son has been struggling with a few anger issues anyway, and maybe this is why this happened, I don't know.  But the punishment for him will be that tomorrow he has to spend the whole day in the office with the assistant principal doing his work.  My heart breaks for him.  He already struggles with feeling anxious about going to school on a good day, so this will be even harder.  I cried almost all afternoon.  No parent wants their child to be the one who got in trouble at school, let alone has to spend a day in the principal's office.  And this is a child who is never a behavior problem at school.  Part of me thinks that all day in the office is a little too much, but I know they have to make their point.  I am trying to be supportive.  So, tonight we told our son right before bedtime what his consequence for breaking the rule at school would be, and of course he is upset about it.  He said he never wanted to go to school again.  But we tried to encourage him that we knew he could be strong and face the consequence of his bad choice tomorrow, and depend on Jesus to help him through when he feels scared or overwhelmed.  I shared with him the verse that had encouraged me today, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7  It seemed that he was receptive to what we said, and actually said a prayer tonight himself asking God to forgive him, and asking God to help him face his consequence tomorrow.  Learning lessons in our lives through mistakes are so hard, but seeing your children learn lessons in their lives through mistakes seems even harder.  You want so much for them not to have to go through the hurt.  Earlier when I just felt so hopeless and helpless, this verse encouraged me too.  "My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word." - Psalm 119:28  I was encouraged with God's word.  The whole chapter 119 of Psalms is very good.  Read it if you have not!  My prayer is that C would learn through the time of his punishment at school tomorrow.  My prayer for myself is that I wouldn't be so discouraged from this that I lose hope in him.  I know he is just a child, but as a parent I often find myself looking too far into the future and worrying that if he is in trouble now for this, what will he be like when he's older?  I can't think like that though.  I must believe in him and I do.  I do believe that God has a plan for his life.  "For I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11  Praying that God will help my boy be strong tomorrow, and help his Mommy to not worry about him.  Part of letting go and teaching your children to depend on God to help them too, when they make mistakes.