First Day of School

 The night before the first day of school is full of anticipation. All my supplies are new and ready to go. Most of my supplies are ready to go. I have to find a new lunchbox. I go through my closet and begin to pick out the outfit for the first day and put it in a prominent place for the morning. I hope to continue this habit for the rest of the school year. starting with good habits is always helpful. It’s keeping those good habits that can hinder us. 

I go to bed at an uncharacteristic early time so that I can have proper rest for the first day of school. Another habit that I have begun to develop. Proper rest creates a great day at school for everyone. Rest. Some Christians have created an evil standard around rest. They are wrong. Rest is essential for us to maintain and grow in our faith. Children should have a proper bedtime. We are all children of God. We all must have a proper bedtime. 

As I step onto the campus, I am a bundle of nerves. Seeing friends for the first time in six weeks brings joy, but the anticipation of the work set before me looms in my mind. All the preparation for the first day is essential to a great year. Organization is a learned skill for most people. It is a habit that also must be developed. Some people believe that they are born organized. They are born with the desire that life around them is organized and runs without disruptions. Organization doesn’t eliminate disruptions. It prepares us for those times that we have them so we can still be successful when they occur. 

I decided this year that I will start my days with prayer. Of course, I have my quiet time and prayer within that, but prayer for my school on my own in my own space must occur so that I can remind myself that I am not there to be the best, the most well liked, or the leader, but to bring people into the presence of Jesus. That doesn’t have to be done with words. It can be done with my attitude and actions, which prayer will remind me to do every single day. 

The bell rings and everyone hustles into their first class. As everyone enters my first class, they all stare at me. I smile and greet them. Then, after a few award minutes, I introduce myself. “Good morning, I’m your teacher. Welcome to the first day of school for what I hope will be the best year for you in high school.” 

We all need a new first day. Whether you are in school or not, we all need to start anew. Choose a day to be your first day to create a new habit. Restart. Refuel. It changes you and the people around you. Then, when you walk into your space, your confidence is strong and your influence is even stronger.