Back to School 2025

It’s that time of year again—back to school. Whether you’re a mom of littles or have fully grown children, you can still sense the happenings August brings.  The stores are full of freshly sharpened pencils, crisp, clean backpacks ready to be filled with supplies, and markers of all the rainbow colors are prepared to be used by little hands. Families crave routines like water in the desert. And as summer ends, I believe, children are ready to return to learning.

Many emotions are swirling: excitement, anticipation, joy, or the other end of the range, such as dread, fear, and nervousness.

Whatever emotions you and your family feel as another school year ramps up, I encourage you to take it to the Lord.

Psalm 55:16-17 says, “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”

Matthew 7:7-8 reads, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

And, again in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Dear reader, please join me in praying for our families this August. We know God loves us and listens to us.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for a fresh start—a new school year—a new beginning. Lord, as our children reach the classroom, please surround them with Heavenly protection. Guard their mind, body, and soul from the evils of this world. Bless their speech and actions so they reflect your love to their peers. Help them grow academically, physically, and spiritually. Jesus, we commit our children to your care. In Your holy name. Amen.

Helpful Tips for a Smooth Start: Back to School 2025

#1 Prayer. I have already touched on tip #1, but it bears repeating. Our first response to all changes in life, such as a new school year, is to pray to the Lord. Let us begin today by asking the Lord to be with us this 2025-2026 year of learning. Let us ask the Lord to be with the faculty and staff of our schools. Let us call on the Lord to be with those students who learn from home.

#2 Guard your yes. My favorite saying is, “Guard your yes.”  Most of us tend to overcommit ourselves. We fill our family calendars with every activity known to man-soccer, ballet, football, chess, Cotillion, and more. Our intentions are pure; keep our little ones out of trouble by keeping them busy. However, this leaves little margin for what is most important: time for the Lord and time with family. I want to encourage you to stop and pray before saying “yes” this August. Before you commit, ask yourself:

·         How will this activity better my family?

·         Will this commitment take away from time with the Lord?

·         Can I maintain this commitment to the end?

#3 Prepare the night before. When I worked outside the home, I prepared as much as possible the night before school. Each night, I would pack my children’s lunchboxes-sandwich, chips, fruit, and drink. The only thing that needed to be added was an ice pack. Morning snacks were packed in their bookbags, and each child knew where to find them. Any paperwork was signed, loaded up, and ready to go. Beginning in kindergarten, my children would set their alarm clock to rise with enough time to eat, get dressed, and brush their teeth each morning. I would decide what I would wear to work, so I didn’t have to think about it during the rush of the morning routine. The family calendar was reviewed for the approaching day, so everyone knew what lay ahead.

As we step into this new school year, may we do so with intention, peace, and prayer. August may bring packed schedules and a whirlwind of emotions, but it also offers a fresh start. Let’s embrace it gracefully, trusting God to guide our steps, calm our hearts, and lead our families well.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all—you must be faithful with what’s in front of you today. So take a breath, lean into God’s presence, and know that He walks with you through every morning drop-off, every lunchbox packed, and every evening filled with homework and hugs.

Here’s to a blessed, peaceful, and purposeful school year.

You've got this—and more importantly, God’s got you.

Back to School 2025