College Kid

by Kalonda
(Mobile, AL, USA)

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"I want to go to college," Megan stated at the dinner table.

"Well that's great honey," her mother replied.

"Yeah snoogie, if you work real hard in kindergarten and keep getting good grades, you will be ready for college in no time," her father added.

"No, I want to go to college now," Megan continued in frustration.

"Oh no sweetie, you can't go right now. You're not old enough," her mother reasoned.

Megan ate the rest of her dinner in frustration, quickly took her bath and went to bed.

The next day at school was career day. A firefighter, policeman, businessman, and pilot presented to the class. After the presentations, the teacher gave each student a chance to say what they wanted to be when they grew up. When it was Megan's turn to answer she calmly said, "I want to go to college."

The policeman answered, "Well that's great! You should go to college, and one day when you graduate you can be anything you want to be!"

"No, I want to go to college now," Megan replied.

The firefighter and the businessman smiled as the pilot responded, "You can't go now, you're not old enough."

Megan folded her arms defiantly and did not participate in the rest of the discussion.

After school, Megan went to children's choir rehearsal at the local church. Megan loved to sing and was really starting to enjoy herself when the director signaled it was time to end practice. The children circled up for the wrap-up prayer and the director asked if anyone had any prayer requests. Megan raised her hand and when called upon she stated, "Could you please tell Jesus I want to go to college?"

The director smiled gently and began the prayer. She thanked the Lord for traveling grace and a productive practice. Toward the end of the prayer she asked the Lord for guidance and wisdom for Megan so that she could one day go to college. After the prayer, Megan approached the director and pulled on her shirt tail.

"Excuse me," Megan said.

"Yes Megan?" The director answered.

Megan drew in a deep breath and asked, "Can Jesus help me to go to college now?"

The director tilted her head and looked at the child in front of her, "Well yes sweetie, he could help you go now, but are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes!" Megan shouted.

"Well why would you want to go to college now Megan?" the director asked.

"I miss my sister, she went to college this year," Megan relayed.

"Oh I see?" the director hesitated, "well sure Jesus can help you get to college, but first I want you to sing in the choir with us this Sunday. Would that be okay?"

Megan looked at the director in surprise, "Oh no! I can't sing with you Sunday, that's the grown up choir. I'm not big enough."

The director smiled, "Well you know, college is for grown ups too, are you still sure you want to go?"

Megan thought for a moment before responding, "I can pray that Jesus makes me into a grown up now."

The director was stunned.

"I'll take it from here," said a voice from the doorway. Both Megan and the director turned around to see a familiar face.

"Sarah!" Megan yelled as she ran and jumped in her sister's arms. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in college."

"Well I am in college missy, but I missed you so I came home for the weekend." Sarah explained as she smiled at the director and walked Megan to the car.

"Sarah, Sarah! Jesus is going to make me big like you so I can go to college too!" Megan jumped into the car.

"So I heard," Sarah started carefully "but what about all the birthday parties and Christmas gifts you will miss if you skip the next 13 years of your life?"

Megan frowned and Sarah continued "and what about your friends and mom and dad? You don't want to leave them do you?"

Megan started to respond slowly, "Well no but?"

"And we have to read lots of books," Sarah finished.

"But I don't know how to read yet," Megan whispered.

"I know," Sarah said as she pulled the car into the driveway of the house, "but the great thing is you still have 13 years to learn, and 13 years to spend with your friends and family, and 13 years to decide on a career, and 13 years to sing with the choir."

"Yeah!" Megan exclaimed.

"Yeah," Sarah smiled, "and in the meantime I'll come visit you every chance I get."

The two sisters walked up the steps of the front porch hand in hand. Sarah reached for the door knob, but Megan came to a quick stop.

"What's wrong now sis?" Sarah asked.

"Do you think I should tell Jesus never mind about college?" Megan looked worried.

Sarah smiled, "No, it's okay, that prayer will come in handy some day."