School Days, School Days…

As anxiously as I have been anticipating this day, God has laid a couple of important things on my heart these last couple of days:

1.  Not all families are starting back to school in the same manner we are.  Chuck, Allie, and I had to privilege yesterday to volunteer at 6 Stones’ Operation Back to School.  What an amazing event!  I could not, however, believe some of the statistics I was hearing about the need in our area.  52% of the families in the HEB school district are currently applying for some kind of assistance.  Over half don’t have the basic necessities!  Right down the road from us.  I would never have imagined this.  And even in Grapevine, where I live, the numbers are growing.  I must never forget that some mamas haven’t taken their children back-to-school shopping – not for the same reason I haven’t (I have the pickiest child on the face of the earth and she doesn’t like anything) – but because they can’t afford it.  While Allie spent half the afternoon today planning and packing her lunch for tomorrow, we must think of the mamas who couldn’t feed their kids today.  I hope the event yesterday was only the beginning of a lifelong quest for our family to seek out those less fortunate to help – and to have hearts overflowing with gratitude for what we have been given.

2.  I am reminded that the teachers I am handing my darlings off to have a hard job.  That they have chosen to pour themselves out day after day to make my children better.  What a gift!  What a calling!  But what a challenge.  And I pray I don’t forget that many of them will work long hours at school and home and still have to get done for their own families the tasks and chores I will – starting tomorrow – have some uninterrupted time to do.  And I realize how draining that can be.  So I pray that my daughters (Shelby to the extent she can) will be the kind of considerate, disciplined students that will make their jobs easier.  And I pledge to try to find ways to show appreciation to them and help when possible to make their jobs lighter.  Teacher friends, I am praying for you.  And I love you.  And so I hope you will forgive me tomorrow as I try to say ever so softly, “Yipee