Good morning…
“I’ve heard it said, ‘We are in the down elevator of summer,'” she commented. What an interesting way to describe this week. In Atlanta, we woke to a cooler Saturday morning after a week of warm afternoon rains. Autumn seemed to briefly sneak peak her head around our corner, with hope in her eyes.
Today a large percentage of students will walk into their classrooms to take on the challenges of this year at hand. I send forth a back to school blessing which was kindly sent to me. Spoken or unspoken, may our collective prayers hold each child in the loving palm of God’s care.
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A Blessing for Back to School by Sarah Bessey
As we head back into our classrooms, may you go forth fully convinced of our love and your capacity. May you be the head and not the tail, leading others—and yourself—on a path of flourishing.
May your roots go down deep into God’s soil so you will bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
May you remember your people, where you come from, and find your place of belonging.
May you become even more fully who you were always meant to be this year. We delight in you, darling.
We pray that you would sow seeds of life and hope wherever you find yourself, cultivating a harvest of shalom.
May you be prepared for every good work that lies ahead of you.
May your mind be clear and engaged, your memory sharp, your wisdom beyond your years. May you ask for what you need without fear or shame.
May you be safe, beloved child, protected from anything that seeks to steal, kill, or destroy in any measure. When you are afraid, may you feel our love wrapped around you and take heart.
When disappointments or disasters come—and they will—may you find the depths of the resilience we already see in you and rise, rise, rise again.
May you do what is right and good and kind and just, no matter what everyone else might do. Don’t submerge your true self into the dreams, plans, behaviors, or agendas of others. Bring your full beloved self to these days, knowing you are created in the image of God.
We pray that you would be a blessing to your teachers and the school staff, and we pray that they, in turn, would see and affirm you in the fullness God has created.
We pray for good friendships that will sharpen and delight you.
We pray you would have eyes to see the lonely ones. May you have many opportunities to practice being both brave and kind.
Beloved child of God, we send you out in the power and peace of Love itself, prepared and anointed, knowing you walk upon steady ground.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, one God and Mother of us all.
Amen.
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On this down elevator of summer, may our prayers be many and our worries few. As we hear the “ding” and we see the doors open before us, in trust may we step into our bright future with God.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
“I will be found by you,” says the Lord, “and I will restore…” (Jeremiah 29:11-14a, AMP).
…Sue…
