A Back-to-School Prayer for Kids

This post was originally published Sep 4, 2014 and has been updated to include my youngest son entering kindergarten. 

Where does the time go? It just seems like yesterday that summer started. Thanks to our long winter my kids were in school longer than usual. It was literally July by the time their summer started. And here it is, the start of another school year, just nine weeks later.

With all of the events that happen over each school year as well as during the summer I felt led to say a little prayer. This prayer is for my children as well as other children (and the teachers) tackling yet another year.

To my youngest son,

This is your very first ‘first day of school’. I remember when you were born. You were my third and last baby.

I now can’t imagine life in our house without you.

You are so excited about kindergarten and I know you’ll be just fine. I’ll probably be the one to break down into tears.

May you be this happy all year long and may you find favor with your teachers.

May you bring joy and life to those around you.

I wish you a happy, fun, and safe kindergarten year.

To my oldest son and only daughter,

Today is your first day back to school. I hope you enjoyed your summer. Now, it’s time to get back to business as usual.

I hope your first day of school is as exciting as your last day right before the summer starts. May you find the same excitement to keep you motivated today and during the rest of the school year.

May your eyes be opened to new experiences, new feelings, and new friends. May you gain the wisdom you need to keep up with your schoolwork all year long.

Always be nice to everyone. May you treat people with respect at all times. Treat them the way you want to be treated. May everyone see the goodness in your heart.

May you get the courage to try new things. It’s important to get out there and explore, but, be wise in the decisions you make. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do in front of your parents. Also, don’t say anything that you wouldn’t say in front of us either. Actions speak louder than words and words can hurt.

I pray that your life only gets easier from here, rather than the other way around. May the things that are meant for you come your way. Let all the doors close now that are meant to be closed, so that you are no longer tempted to look inside. Let the doors become marked on the doors that are supposed to open for you.

May everyday of school be safe for you. Let God be your guide. Listen to what He has to say in order to keep you, your classmates, your friends, and your teachers safe. Safe today, tomorrow, and the entire school year.

May He bring hope to you and make you feel you always have a way to cope with whatever trouble comes your way.

For any of your classmates who feel there is no hope and the only solution is violence, may God see their plans and intervene at the appropriate time. May He also bring comfort to those families who have already lost children to violence. Continue to watch over them as the months and years go by.

May you, your classmates, and teachers make it safely to school as well as back home everyday.

May you or your classmates not get left behind. May you all excel above and beyond in your studies and have the hunger and thirst for more.

All these things I pray today.

Amen.

Now, it’s your turn! Feel free to substitute your children in this prayer and use it as your own.