FCS Blog

A Backpack Full of Butterflies

It’s funny how one night can feel so much longer than all the others. The night
before the first day of school stretches on forever: like time itself knows you’re

waiting for something big.

When I was growing up, the night before school, my room was cleaner than ever
before. My clothes laid out, bedtime prayers for a wonderful 1st day. The pencils in
my pencil case were sharp enough to write the next great novel (or at least my
name really neatly). My backpack was propped against the desk, zipped up like it
was guarding some great treasure: notebooks with crisp, untouched pages, and a

lunchbox that had never been used.

But the real action wasn’t in my backpack. It was in my head.

Questions zipped back and forth: What if I can’t find my classroom? What if my
teacher is strict? What if I trip in the hallway? What if I make a new best friend?

My mind was all over the place playing the what if game.

It took all I had to shut out all the noise and try to get a good night’s sleep. I tried
counting sheep, thinking happy thoughts. Finally, I drifted off to sleep, probably

due to pure exhaustion.

First days can be scary. First days can be exhausting. First days can be emotional.
But may we always remember that where 2 or more are gathered, our God is in
the midst of it. We invite Him into this school, into these classrooms, into these
offices. Before the day even gets started, invite Him into your morning routine,

your bedtime routine. He will be there, we need only ask.

Our theme this year is Created With a Purpose. Ephesians 2:10 tells us “We are
God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good

works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.

My hope is that all of our students have a wonderful first day and a wonderful
school year. God is going to do big things in them and through them. May their

hearts be open to what He has in store for them.