Back during COVID I wrote out a prayer for all of us—moms, dads, teachers, kids—about returning to school amidst all the uncertainty of a pandemic. It was a crazy time. None of us knew the day to day much less the week to week plans.

Rereading it I realized, the prayer hasn’t changed. New school. New year. New kids. New room. New program, whatever. Every year is just as different.

So to my friends beginning tomorrow, I salute you. To those already back, I’m sorry that your school district feels the need to kill your joy on August 1st. For those of us beginning next week, I’m right there with you. I’m sending one back to college halfway across the country and one starting junior year with all the college testing and AP anxiety included. We will persevere.

Love y’all so big, Marla

Dear God,
I lit my citronella candle to call the Holy Spirit this evening. You and Jesus and apostle Paul understand mosquitoes. Send us your Holy Spirit, Lord. Fill us with wisdom, discernment, compassion, kindness.
Whether we send our kids to school or keep them home with us, fill us with grace to say, “be at peace with your choice mom and dad.”
Whether we go back into the classroom or online as educators, protect our bodies and connect our minds from six feet or sixty miles.
Whether we drop babies off at daycare with fear or with relief, be gentle with parents and caregivers. It’s a hard thing to do any day.
Help us to remember always, the wisest words Glennon ever spoke, “there is no such thing as other people’s children.”
Protect my boys and protect all children everywhere. Convict us to reach out and stand in the waves for parents when they cannot. Bless mothers and fathers everywhere. Our children are your precious gift. You entrust them to our care. Send help to us when we cannot care for them. Grant us the wisdom to accept that help when it comes.
We are all your children God, all of us. Every single person we dislike or with whom we disagree. Every single person who wears a mask or doesn’t. Every single soul on this earth is yours God. Send the Holy Spirit Lord, send Help.
Awaken in us the inner strength we need to offer mercy and love to one another, because there is no such thing as other people’s children.
Amen.