A Prayer for My Kids on the First Day of School

Father,

As you well know, my children start school today. New year. New school. New friends. New teachers. New lunch room. New hallways. New grade.

There’s a big part of me that is glad and thankful for all of this.

There’s another big part of me that is anxious and scared.

I am grateful for the summer we have had.

I am grateful for the incredible school system.

I am grateful for the teachers.

I am grateful for the brand new facility.

I am grateful for a few familiar faces.

I am grateful for the education they are receiving.

I am grateful for the friendships they will develop.

I am grateful for the opportunities to thrive in non-academic settings.

I am grateful for the fact that they will be out of the house for good portion of the weekday. . .well, it’s true. . . I am.

But I am also scared.

I am scared that they will be scared.

I am scared that they will be influenced negatively.

I am scared that they will hear and see things I don’t want them to hear and see.

I am scared that they will be tempted to do and say things I don’t want them to do and say.

I am scared of names they will be called.

I am scared of hard exams and homework.

I am scared that they will be afraid to talk to me or Katie about things.

I am scared of being too distracted to notice when they need me to be present.

There are many things I could pray for today and countless things that will come up throughout the year. But here is what I ask You to please do for them as they endure/enjoy another year of school: give them someone who knows and loves them and knows and loves Jesus who can help them wisely process life’s realities. I can’t keep them from seeing and hearing things. They are going to be tempted and scared and frustrated and angry. I want them to experience real life. But I so want them to be able to process life with wisdom. Of course, my desire is that they process life with Katie and me. But if not us, give them a friend or two who will lead them toward wisdom. If not that, another adult who they trust to lead them in wisdom. If you would so allow, I pray they have an abundance of people in and around them who they feel can help them with life.

I can’t keep them in a bubble. I don’t want to. I want them to know reality. But I want them to process reality with wisdom. So Father, please give them people that know and love them and  know and love Jesus who will help them process life’s realities.

Thank You for how You will answer.

Because of Jesus I pray,

Luke, Seth, and Birti’s Dad