Back to School Blessing

 

The high school and middle school kids go back to school today. It's two days a week for just a few hours. It's been hard to write blogs this season. It's just delicate to write what I really feel while being respectful to the hearts of all the people in my circle. Forgive my transparency, I think the public school kids need to be back full time and get on with their precious lives. 

We have still kept busy. Mary played piano for the musical Charlie Brown which dragged on for months and months in a socially distanced masked fashion. Let's continue our honesty and remind the powers that be that the piano player takes the hit for this. The gal who was sharing the book finally had to quit a few days before the final recordings. Mary picked up the slack. They would have gone broke paying union scale for an accompanist. . . but Mary kept going. Learning and relearning the book. Recording and recording the charts. We can't wait to see the finished video with the cast. 

Now she is on to Bravo rehearsals and recording with the jazz ensemble on tenor. The day we return to the Eastview High School Performing Arts Center for a full company production we will weep tears of joy. Our kids are missing experiences that they just can't get back. 

What they have lost, they will gain in resilience. If we are lucky. If we keep playing our cards right and lifting them up. Those without our stamina have fallen off the grid. 

None of Mary's friends are returning to in person school. I don't really understand. If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. . . . 

One of my middle school piano kids is having his first day at the actual school today. In the fall he did distance learning. He doesn't know the building. He doesn't know where his classes are. He doesn't know the teachers. And there will be no ticker tape parade of eighth grade volunteers showing these new sixth graders the ropes with signs and directions. 

I'm sending out a blessing to all those kids arriving at all those buildings in district 196 today. 

Lord,

Bless all the children, but today especially, bless all those who are returning to the school building to learn and grow. Also bless the teachers and give them the tools they need for the difficult tasks before them. Use these trials to your glory, that we may become stronger and more resilient and not lose hope. Keep students and teachers safe and let them be a light to one another, spreading your never ending and boundless love. 

Amen

P.S. Calvin has been busy too. He gave a huge recital to a socially distanced audience. That is another blog. Until then, congrats also to Calvin.