Here We Go Again!

            It is once again the night before school starts.  This will be the eighteenth time I’ve done a first day of school as a teacher, and I have a few thoughts.

            I am blessed to be a teacher.  I truly feel that God has called me to this profession.  Just as God called my husband to be a minister, I feel God called me to work with youth through the public school system.  Because I have followed God’s call in this profession, I feel He continues to bless me.  I do have hard days.  There are even some days I may want to quit.  But when I seriously think about other professions, I know I am where I am supposed to be.

            I am not the only one who thinks summer moved too fast.  I know when students come back tomorrow they will be more interested in what everyone did over the summer than how to read a passage of literature and analyze it.  If I’m ever going to be able to have that conversation, I must make a personal connection.  I need to build quality teacher/student relationships so we can work together to learn for the next 180 school days.

            Behind each student is a family.  Some of those families look a lot like mine: two parents, siblings, pets, middle class, etc.  Some of those families look nothing like I’ve ever experienced.  I must remember that some of these kids are coming from homes where there is no electricity on a regular basis or food every meal or even a stable roof over their head every night.  They may only be at school because it’s a safer place than home.  I must no judge but instead be ready to meet them where they are.

            I also have a family that is heading back to school and routines.  We need to be proactive in spending time together.  I need to remember that they still need me even when I am weary from my day.  I need to remember that they are more important than anything!

            As I look forward to tomorrow, here is my prayer.

            Dear Lord,

            Bless this school year.  Bless the 110 students you have entrusted to my care for this year.  Bless the parents and extended families who are associated with those students.  Bless the administrators who direct the teachers in making good decisions for these students.  And, dear Lord, please bless my own family.  Take care of them while they go to their own classrooms and their own jobs.  Bring us together in the evenings and weekends to continue to grow as a family and to grow in your grace.

            Amen.