Even in the heat, it started again: Gearing up for the start of school.
As a retired teacher, I remember vividly all the elements of getting ready to open the classroom door for students on that first day.
As a parent, I remember all the shopping and organizing, getting ready for our three boys to be equipped for school — changing over the years as they grew and matured.
When it was Jon’s turn for kindergarten — he was the baby of the three — he was feeling lonely about going by himself all day without his brothers, or mama and dad. I made him a little booklet he could keep in his pocket with pictures of us. He could get the packet out and look at it whenever he got homesick. The pocket packet seemed to work, and he adjusted to the new school pretty quickly.
Everyone needed whatever kind of organizer was popular at the time for their notebooks, papers, handouts and pencils, as well as colored markers. New shoes and new clothes or uniforms, that would be quickly outgrown, were selected and ready. Trips to the doctor for checkups and booster shots were reluctantly completed.
Yarn and construction paper bears and puppy name tags with the children’s name, grade and teacher were slipped over heads; and later, car keys were in pockets as they drove themselves to school.
School is our shared cultural event lasting 12, 14, 16 or 20 years, depending on the level of education necessary for the career chosen. How has it become so contentious that curriculum is questionable, safety is debatable and what is learned from fellow classmates can be undesirable?
Schools reflect what is going in our society. Schools reflect their communities as well as the nation. Schools can be full of good, desirable and profitable experiences, or chaotic and confusing.
Now more than ever, America realizes how dangerous schools can be and almost all are taking steps to make sure the children and teachers are as safe as they can make them.
Now more than ever, Christians need to pray for schools, all employees and all students.
Pray for safety. Proverbs 14:26: “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.”
Pray for good behavior of the students to be able and ready to learn. Proverbs 16:20: “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”
Proverbs 10:17: “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”
We see lots of pictures on social media of beautiful children on the first day of school, shiny and bright, holding signs with their grade that year, that proud mama’s take and keep as precious memories.
But there are students that got themselves ready for a new school year as best they could, gathered up what supplies they found around the house, whose parents didn’t take them shopping for clothes and snacks, or even get up to get them ready for that important first day.
They will all come.
They all need prayer.
I Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.”
