A Mom’s Back-to-School Prayer

We are wrapping up summer this week. We have done dentist appointments, doctor appointments, car appointments, back-to-school shopping, and we even have our first day of school outfits ready to go.

We They I am ready!

But as ready as I am, when I think about that previous sentence I notice some of those momthoughts start creeping in!

I find myself concerned about friends, bullies, teachers, the potty, and all the fleeting summer moments that flew by.

This week really was a doozy. We did more errands this week than we have done all summer. What can I say? I work well under pressure.

Weeks like this and crazy mom thoughts like those previously mentioned require walking. Alone. So I headed out last night and went to my favorite thinking rock.

I had a good chat with my Jesus up there and I thought I would share it with my sweet readers. It went a little something like this:

Dear God,

As my kids all head back to school I want you to know I am a little concerned about a few things.

(Like not so concerned that I think we should homeschool, but enough that I wanted to talk to you about it.)

But first… thank you for the school system. Thank you for the teachers who have patience that must be sent from the Holy Realms and thank you for giving someone the idea that children should be educated by someone better qualified than me. Oh, and thank you for not making me a teacher. I’ll make sure to send lots of gifts, notes, and maybe even volunteer weekly as needed.

I pray my kids would have a love of knowledge and a teacher that spurs them on. Please help them work hard, stay focused, and develop a lifelong thirst for knowledge.

Please let common core come easily for them because I have no ever-loving clue how to help them. (Why do we have to draw 57 boxes to solve 2×2?)

Please let the smell of a classroom, the sound of rambunctious halls, the feel of new shoes, and the taste of a 4-hour-old sandwich bring them a smile and a sweet memory of school when they are older.

I pray that you would protect them. Please protect them physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

I also pray that if they are ever in harms way they would use their words and not their fists, but God, if it comes down to it… please help them remember eyes, throat, crotch. <– that is for “bad guys” if it’s just another kid… then the words thing.

All kidding aside, please protect their bodies, hearts, minds, souls and give them strength, courage, and confidence.

God I pray they never forget Whose they are… Who they represent. They are Yours and they are mine. I pray they remain true to our faith and family code even under peer pressure.

I pray they are a light in the classroom and their faith would be seen by others.

I pray if they are struggling or afraid, they would remember you are always right there with them. I know you love them more than I do (which I still find hard to believe) and I know you will be there watching them and comforting them.

Thanks. (Go team Jesus/Spratt!)

I pray that when the bad stuff happens, like I know it will… whether it’s a forgotten assignment, a bump on the playground, or a problem with a classmate, I pray you will show them how you work all things together for good.

There is truly nothing better on this planet than seeing the joy in my kids eyes after an answered prayer.

I know it can’t all go perfectly– they have to need you, but please show them your handiwork.

Ok, enough about them… what about me?

God, please help me send them off with a smile and a hug each day.

Please help me to be the mom I want them to remember.

Please help me make them more than cereal at least once a week.

Please help me to be patient when I am frustrated.

Please help me to use a nice voice at a nice volume.

Please help me perform like I have a few clones during the witching hours of 4:30pm–6:30pm when all the things seem to happen; after school snack, after school friends, dinner prep, homework help, MG grumpy crash from her meds, James always needs to go poop, practice, etc.

Please help me to wake up early each morning to spend time with you. I know I cannot pour something out that has not been filled up.

God, please free me from any mom guilt this year, help me to find peace in knowing I tried my best.

With open hands and an open heart, I lift up our school year, our teachers, and our family.

I am just going to leave it there and trust that you’ll do your God thing, thanks in advance!

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Articles by Christen Spratt

Christen Spratt

Christen is the wife to one (he is the coolest engineer you will ever meet) and a mother to four (one from her teen pregnancy, one with epilepsy, one with SPED needs, and the fourth may or may not be related to the Hulk.) She is a recovering “perfect wife/mom,” up to her eyeballs in all things motherhood. She doesn’t have a Pinteresting life, she doesn’t cut sandwiches into dolphins, she doesn’t have a perfect marriage, and she regularly shares all this good/bad/ugly with her sweet readers over at http://christenspratt.com/. Christen is passionate about authenticity and frequently writes about the FaKebook phenomena, parenting, marriage, and faith while keeping a canny sense of humor. It is her heart to offer hope to other moms in the trenches. You can also find her on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/christenspratt, Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christenspratt/, and Twitter - https://twitter.com/christenspratt.

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