First Day of School

A Mom's Prayer On the First Day of School

Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their
lunch cards are full.

And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do. But a mom still has to ask.

Will You walk with them?

Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it?

Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only

You can give, and will You keep harm far away?

Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn?

Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them?

Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and

wisdom and creativity and more patience?

Will You bless them for their efforts?

Will You love all those children there,

the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full,

the ones who feel alone?

Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish

and to love those who are different from them?

Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?

Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care.

Amen

This is the Start of Something New

Okay, admit it, how many of you are now singing that High School Musical song after reading the title of this entry? Don't be ashamed, because I totally have Troy and Gabriella pictured in my head now.

Moving on........ I always love it when I meet new people. We are introduced, we chat a while about our kids, what neighborhood we live in, etc. And then inevitably the question comes up that changes the whole tone of the conversation- "What does your husband do?"

I'll be honest and say that when Jason and I were first married, I was really vague with my answer. I would tell people that he was doing graduate work at Emory. Most people would assume that he was in med school and I wouldn't correct them. Eventually though, he graduated and I had to start being more specific. He is a pastor.

I wasn't ashamed of the fact. Actually, I'm really proud of him and the work that he does for our Lord. I just hated the way it would change people when they found out. It was like you could see them replaying our conversation in their head and making sure that they hadn't cussed or said anything else "sinful". I just wanted people to be real with me.

Now that we've been married for nine years, I've learned to deal with it all in a more mature way. I just make sure that I am as real as can be right from the beginning. I don't feel the need to play the part of the quiet, pious, always put together preacher's wife. I'm just me, imperfections and all. Now when people meet me, more often the not, when I tell them about Jason's job I get the response "Your husband does what?" And I'll take that!