A Back-To-School Prayer

Back to school time has its effects on everyone.  For a parent, one can feel a combination of stress, anxiety, fear, excitement, sadness and joy.  For a kid, there are all sorts of feelings...happiness, dread, with a bit of fear and trepidation mixed in.  For drivers, we learn patience as traffic becomes crazy and white signs with a blinking 25 return.  For the stores?  Well, they basically want your back-to-school bucks.  For teachers? We know you could go either way.

Back to school is a pretty memorable time. Most of us have tucked away a picture of our first day of school.  Little did we know as a kid, how stressful and emotional it can be for a parent!  As we grow older and experience more of life, we realize the enormity of all that takes place in one school year.

Some of our YMCA's are going to take some moments in the coming week to offer up prayers for parents and their kids.  We want you to know that our Y cares about you and your family!  We are dedicated to praying for you and your children as you begin the school year.  Since we are not going to reach every parent and child, why not take a moment and pray this prayer right now on behalf of our kids, parents and teachers?

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you so much for the gift of summer and the freedoms that make summer special.  As we transition to fall, we pray for every boy and girl, young man and young woman who will be entering school or college this fall.  We ask, Lord, that you would bless their school year in every way, for a positive learning experience, great friendships and wonderful teachers.  We pray for their mind, body and spirit to mature.  I specifically want to lift up those that are near and dear to me going back to school either as a teacher or child.  (Mention by name.) Father, we pray for safety and protection for all our students and teachers both here and around the country.  We pray against evil of any kind.  We thank you that you love our children more than we ever could.  We entrust them to your care.  We pray for all teachers and administrators as they prepare for the year.  Give them wisdom, strength, enthusiasm and love for their children.  We pray for those who serve in day care and after school programs, that you would bless their efforts as well.  Thank you, Lord, for a new season before us! We ask it will be an amazing year for all of us.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.