I’m Not As Cool As I Thought

Dorm life is not for the faint of heart.

Can I get a big Amen?

My 20s didn’t include living with girlfriends and sharing everything from tank tops to toothpaste. So, you can imagine my excitement over spending four days with my daughter in her dorm last week.

When I got off the plane, there was my beautiful grown-child waiting to escort me to my temporary digs.

Meghan excitedly led me to the temporary place she calls home, her dorm. The odiferous scents of Bath and Body Lotions and microwave popcorn greeted me in the hall and battled it out for first place. Sleeping in her room that evening was going to be fun, right? After a long day of travel and meeting many precious gals, I bedded down for the night. I was sure I was fitting right in, I thought, as I climbed under the covers.

Was I sleeping on a ping pong table? What type of college trickery was this? How can anyone sleep on a mattress as comfortable as a cement slab?  My back caught and immediately reminded me of my middle age. What had happened? I used to be the life of the party. Reality hit me like a baseball bat between the eyes.

Before I realized I would be sleeping on a ping pong table.

After four days of living at The Master’s College, I learned a few things:

• The next generation has given me hope for our future. Worshipping with a thousand, twenty-somethings, has a way of piercing your heart. I wish I could attend chapel three days a week with those amazing kids. Chatting with young women about future plans and faith in God does a mother’s heart good.
• College has no bed time.  “Mom, would you like to attend the 9:30 pm prayer meeting?” “9:30? Oh honey, God isn’t up that late. I think there’s a scripture somewhere that says He only takes prayers until 9pm, let me go find it.” I tried to convince her. Seriously, those girls are up studying and hanging out until the wee hours of the morning. Yeesh.
• 43 is a great age. Grey hair, flabby arms, and bifocal contacts – yeah, I’ll take em’. I wouldn’t go back to my twenties if I could.

Stepping back on the plane and heading home, I realized a few things; God has a hand on my precious child. I happily embrace my age. And, I’m not as cool as I thought.