The First Day of School
August 2020
Dad came through the door a few minutes later than usual, and the supper table was all ready. Mom placed the last of the serving bowls in the center of the table while Katie put the butter, salt and pepper in their spot, jabbering a mile a minute as she worked. As soon as the iced tea was poured, Mom, Dad and Katie all sat down to join Kyle who was waiting at his spot with a long, sad face.
As soon as they had prayed and begun passing the food, 10 year old Katie had once again launched into a detailed description of the cute purse she had bought on sale today, and the hair bow that matched it, which both, of course, coordinated with her school uniform. Dad looked up from putting mashed potatoes on his plate and said, “Well, Katie, you sure sound happy and excited!”
“I can’t wait!” she exclaimed. “Tomorrow is the first day of school!”
Dad looked across from her at 9 year old Kyle who was staring dejectedly at his green beans, and stirring them around with his fork. “What’s wrong, son? You look just as sad as Katie looks happy. Did something terrible happen?”
Kyle looked up at Dad as if he couldn’t believe Dad didn’t already know the problem. “Tomorrow is the first day of school!” Kyle’s tone of voice might put you in mind of that Bible phrase, ‘weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.’
Dad chuckled and exchanged a smile with Mom before saying, “Well, how about we enjoy our supper before we give up all hope, and we’ll talk about it later this evening.”
After supper was finished and the dishes were done, Mom posted a new copy of the chore list and school reminders on the fridge with a magnet. Katie got the broom and dustpan while Kyle emptied all the trash cans and took the trash out to be picked up. Mom got out their school uniforms, shoes and socks, and all the new school supplies they had gone shopping for and started sorting them on the kitchen table for the kids to put in their new backpacks. “I can’t wait for Leah and Allie to see my new backpack tomorrow!” Katie’s excitement was still in high gear, but Kyle didn’t have much to say as he put pencils, pens, scissors, and markers in his new camo backpack along with his Bible.
Katie kept running to the refrigerator to check the reminder list, and finally all that was left was packing lunches. Mom got out the meat, cheese, bread, mustard, mayo and baggies for the sandwiches. Katie brought out the basket filled with potato chips and cheese curls for them to pick from. Kyle brought out the container that held cookies and granola bars. They each packed their lunch and included an apple and a bottle of water for tomorrow.
By the time baths and jammies were done, Katie and Kyle were both yawning, and Mom wanted them to get to bed on time so they could get a full night’s sleep before the 6:00 am alarm began to sound off. Soon they were all on the living room couch to pray with Dad before going to bed. “Pray that we have a GREAT first day of school too, Daddy,” asked Katie.
“I will,” said Dad. He turned to Kyle seated on his other side. “Anything you want us to pray about Kyle?”
“I don’t think it would work if we asked the Lord to give us two more months of summer, would it?” Kyle’s sideways grin said he already knew the answer to that question.
Dad smiled and said, “I think the Lord already decided how long summer would last, and the principal already decided which day school would start. But I guess we could pray for nice fall weather so that you can still do lots of outdoor activities after school.”
Mom said, “It has been a fun summer, but it went by so fast. It seems like summer break just started last week, and here we are preparing for the first day of school again. I guess we are done with sleeping in and long bike rides for a while.”
“I’m glad it’s time for school to start,” said Katie. “I hardly ever get to see Leah and Allie during the summer because they go to their grandparent’s house. I wish they could have been here the day we set up our lemonade stand.”
Kyle was still pretty quiet. “Kyle, you never told me what had you feeling so blue about tomorrow being the first day of school?” asked Dad.
“Well, for one thing we just got our bike ramp put together, and the guys have all been coming over to shoot baskets every day, too. I like summer mornings when I don’t have to hurry and I get to think about all the different things I might like to do that day and choose one.”
“Sounds like Katie has been looking forward and you’ve been looking back,” said Dad. “I guess instead of being sad we ought to be thankful we got to do a lot of fun things while summer was here. But school is important, too.”
“I know,” said Kyle with a sigh. “But Dylan had to move away, and I don’t think going to school is going to be any fun all by myself.”
“I see,” said Dad. “I know you really miss your friend. You and Dylan have been in school together every year since kindergarten. So while we pray, let’s pray that you and Dylan both have a good first day of school even though you are in different schools, and let’s pray that the Lord will let you make some new friends at school, too.”
“Okay, Dad. Umm, do you think we could pray about something else, too?”
“Sure,” said Dad. “What is it?”
“Well, at the end of third grade, I didn’t get fractions too well, or division either. I don’t want the other kids to laugh at me or think I’m dumb, but I just don’t understand it.” Kyle looked down at the floor, while Mom and Dad looked at each other.
“Now I think we are getting somewhere. We have some specific needs to pray about. Not only that, but Kyle, you never told me that you were struggling with fractions and division. How about tomorrow night you and I play some games with fractions and candy bars and Legos and crayons and a whole apple pie? We can have a bunch of treats AND help you understand fractions and division a lot better!”
“Really?” Kyle had a real smile for the first time all evening, and when it was his turn to pray, even he sounded a little bit excited about the first day of school.
Dad opened his Bible to I Peter 5:7. “I know you both have memorized this verse in Sunday School before, but let’s say it together again tonight. ‘Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ No matter what kind of problem we might have, or even the problems we worry we might encounter, we need to remember that Jesus cares about our problems and He cares about us. He cares when we miss our friends. He cares when we are sad about something that is over, and even when we are worried about something in the future. Picture a downhill ramp. The Lord wants us to pack up all of our troubles, roll them up in a ball, and give them a shove His way, instead of keeping them to ourselves. We don’t ever need to carry those burdens alone; the Lord wants us to give them all to Him.”
No matter what may happen in your life, remember that Jesus cares. And when we need help, He is the best Person to ask. The next time something is bothering you, if you are sad or worried or afraid, remember Who wants to share that burden, and Who has the power to solve every problem and meet every need.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7)
As soon as they had prayed and begun passing the food, 10 year old Katie had once again launched into a detailed description of the cute purse she had bought on sale today, and the hair bow that matched it, which both, of course, coordinated with her school uniform. Dad looked up from putting mashed potatoes on his plate and said, “Well, Katie, you sure sound happy and excited!”
“I can’t wait!” she exclaimed. “Tomorrow is the first day of school!”
Dad looked across from her at 9 year old Kyle who was staring dejectedly at his green beans, and stirring them around with his fork. “What’s wrong, son? You look just as sad as Katie looks happy. Did something terrible happen?”
Kyle looked up at Dad as if he couldn’t believe Dad didn’t already know the problem. “Tomorrow is the first day of school!” Kyle’s tone of voice might put you in mind of that Bible phrase, ‘weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.’
Dad chuckled and exchanged a smile with Mom before saying, “Well, how about we enjoy our supper before we give up all hope, and we’ll talk about it later this evening.”
After supper was finished and the dishes were done, Mom posted a new copy of the chore list and school reminders on the fridge with a magnet. Katie got the broom and dustpan while Kyle emptied all the trash cans and took the trash out to be picked up. Mom got out their school uniforms, shoes and socks, and all the new school supplies they had gone shopping for and started sorting them on the kitchen table for the kids to put in their new backpacks. “I can’t wait for Leah and Allie to see my new backpack tomorrow!” Katie’s excitement was still in high gear, but Kyle didn’t have much to say as he put pencils, pens, scissors, and markers in his new camo backpack along with his Bible.
Katie kept running to the refrigerator to check the reminder list, and finally all that was left was packing lunches. Mom got out the meat, cheese, bread, mustard, mayo and baggies for the sandwiches. Katie brought out the basket filled with potato chips and cheese curls for them to pick from. Kyle brought out the container that held cookies and granola bars. They each packed their lunch and included an apple and a bottle of water for tomorrow.
By the time baths and jammies were done, Katie and Kyle were both yawning, and Mom wanted them to get to bed on time so they could get a full night’s sleep before the 6:00 am alarm began to sound off. Soon they were all on the living room couch to pray with Dad before going to bed. “Pray that we have a GREAT first day of school too, Daddy,” asked Katie.
“I will,” said Dad. He turned to Kyle seated on his other side. “Anything you want us to pray about Kyle?”
“I don’t think it would work if we asked the Lord to give us two more months of summer, would it?” Kyle’s sideways grin said he already knew the answer to that question.
Dad smiled and said, “I think the Lord already decided how long summer would last, and the principal already decided which day school would start. But I guess we could pray for nice fall weather so that you can still do lots of outdoor activities after school.”
Mom said, “It has been a fun summer, but it went by so fast. It seems like summer break just started last week, and here we are preparing for the first day of school again. I guess we are done with sleeping in and long bike rides for a while.”
“I’m glad it’s time for school to start,” said Katie. “I hardly ever get to see Leah and Allie during the summer because they go to their grandparent’s house. I wish they could have been here the day we set up our lemonade stand.”
Kyle was still pretty quiet. “Kyle, you never told me what had you feeling so blue about tomorrow being the first day of school?” asked Dad.
“Well, for one thing we just got our bike ramp put together, and the guys have all been coming over to shoot baskets every day, too. I like summer mornings when I don’t have to hurry and I get to think about all the different things I might like to do that day and choose one.”
“Sounds like Katie has been looking forward and you’ve been looking back,” said Dad. “I guess instead of being sad we ought to be thankful we got to do a lot of fun things while summer was here. But school is important, too.”
“I know,” said Kyle with a sigh. “But Dylan had to move away, and I don’t think going to school is going to be any fun all by myself.”
“I see,” said Dad. “I know you really miss your friend. You and Dylan have been in school together every year since kindergarten. So while we pray, let’s pray that you and Dylan both have a good first day of school even though you are in different schools, and let’s pray that the Lord will let you make some new friends at school, too.”
“Okay, Dad. Umm, do you think we could pray about something else, too?”
“Sure,” said Dad. “What is it?”
“Well, at the end of third grade, I didn’t get fractions too well, or division either. I don’t want the other kids to laugh at me or think I’m dumb, but I just don’t understand it.” Kyle looked down at the floor, while Mom and Dad looked at each other.
“Now I think we are getting somewhere. We have some specific needs to pray about. Not only that, but Kyle, you never told me that you were struggling with fractions and division. How about tomorrow night you and I play some games with fractions and candy bars and Legos and crayons and a whole apple pie? We can have a bunch of treats AND help you understand fractions and division a lot better!”
“Really?” Kyle had a real smile for the first time all evening, and when it was his turn to pray, even he sounded a little bit excited about the first day of school.
Dad opened his Bible to I Peter 5:7. “I know you both have memorized this verse in Sunday School before, but let’s say it together again tonight. ‘Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ No matter what kind of problem we might have, or even the problems we worry we might encounter, we need to remember that Jesus cares about our problems and He cares about us. He cares when we miss our friends. He cares when we are sad about something that is over, and even when we are worried about something in the future. Picture a downhill ramp. The Lord wants us to pack up all of our troubles, roll them up in a ball, and give them a shove His way, instead of keeping them to ourselves. We don’t ever need to carry those burdens alone; the Lord wants us to give them all to Him.”
No matter what may happen in your life, remember that Jesus cares. And when we need help, He is the best Person to ask. The next time something is bothering you, if you are sad or worried or afraid, remember Who wants to share that burden, and Who has the power to solve every problem and meet every need.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7)
