Someone in our office brought this to my attention for our parish bulletin, and as I was entering it in, I felt such warmth that I just had to share it here. Whether your school is a place where you send your children or a journey you’re taking together with them in a homeschool setting; whether you find yourself kissing them goodbye or embarking with them on another year of adventurous learning; whether it’s your spouse or your child, your friend or yourself who’s back to school…this prayer just sums up all the reasons I love this time of year.

We thank you for the fragrance of a new box of crayons, Lord,
the rainbow in each perfect row;
thank you for each bundle of snowy white notebook paper,
awaiting fresh possibilities.
May they remind us that you make all things new
and bless us with abundance.
Thank you for this ruler,
for every eraser that tops every pencil.
May they help us remember to measure our blessings
but never your boundless love for us,
to allow for the making of mistakes
as a normal part of human learning.
As we lay out our new clothes
for these first days of school,
help us remember to put on Christ each day, too,
and to “clothe the naked” as he asked us.
But mostly, God, help us remember
that Jesus is always our best and most devoted teacher—
that we never outgrow all his lessons
on how you want us to live and to love.
By HomeFaith editor Mary Lynn Hendrickson