Back to school bed time is in full swing. We’ve tried on the closets to see what still fits. Paper work has been completed and all the school supply list items purchased, labeled, and placed in backpacks. Lunch accounts are padded. First day of school clothes were picked to match personal style. Hair cuts have been had.

Excitement for the first day of school is off the charts.

And as my girls head off, this will be my prayer:

Lord God,

In a world where school is viewed a training ground for the future please help my child keep focus on the present. Help her remember that it is not about who she can be but who she is.

Give her a heart for the one standing alone. Place in her a desire to be a kind friend to many rather than an exclusive friend to a few.

Lord set upon my child’s heart gratitude for teachers and school staff. May she be respectful and come eager to learn to make the teacher’s job joy.

I pray my girl would look in the mirror and see her for who you created her to be – precious, talented, loved. When standardized testing threatens to place them on a success scale, balance humility and hope. And bury deep in her heart awareness that trying and progress speak louder than any score ever will.

Set in my child’s spirit a fire for You, God. I don’t care if she is the smartest or most talented. I don’t expect her to ace everything she tries. I just want her to love You. To be Your hands and feet to the world around her. THIS is true success.

May she be a light…with childlike spunk.

Amen