Today is your first day back and first day ever (technically Raegan's is tomorrow).
8th grade and kindergarten. New books and lesson plans, sharp
pencils and a tall stack of fresh lined paper awaits you.
I am amazed we are here. Another year. Bigger shoes. I still
haven’t figured out how this happens right before my eyes, and yet it feels like it happens in leap
and bounds.
I blinked. I
was holding each one of you in my arms only days ago, holding your hand just
yesterday, and now I just want to hold on to this for as long as possible.
I want to make these moments last. Most of them,
anyhow.
There is so much I want to teach you, so much I want you
to know. There are books that demand to be read, science that needs to be
explored, words that beg to be written, and equations that must be solved. There
is so very much to learn and so much to see. I am incredibly honored to
see it with you.
Sometimes my honored looks
more like overwhelmed, more like impatient, more like tired. And there
are moments where those are all true. But in my heart, and at the end of
every day, I always remember what an awesome privilege this is. Truly, awesome.
This job I have isn’t easy. I want to teach you
logic and Spanish. I want to discuss worldview and critical thinking.
I want you to know how to learn, how to ask questions, how to solve
problems and how to not miss the beauty in
it all. I want to spark
fires and inspire appetite, give you roots and foster growth.
How does one momma do all that?
The clock is ticking, the years they seem to pick up
speed. What seemed like an infinite journey at the beginning, a life
sentence almost, is now taking shape. There is an end. I only have so much time.
So, I must realize now that I will never teach you
it all. A lot, but
never all.
In this realization I must prioritize what I really want
you to know – what I want you to learn and see in this fleeting time I get with
you.
I want you to know the difference between wisdom and knowledge. I want you to know Truth. I
want you to know love and compassion and that the world is bigger, so much
bigger, than we imagine.
I want you to know humility is a sign of strength and
gratitude is the key to happiness.
I want you to know that courage comes in many forms and
bravery is a muscle you must never let atrophy.
I want you to know that education is important, but
nothing you learn will ever be more important than knowing God. Nothing
you accomplish will ever be more significant than serving Him. No gift
you ever receive will ever be greater than the gift of salvation. If I fail you in every other way, may I never
fail to teach you about the power of prayer…to change lives, to save hearts, to
defeat injustice and to defend truth. May I never fail to teach you about
relentless love and redeeming grace about the true Provider and the One who
heals. May I never fail to teach you the
Truth of where courage comes from and the foundation in Whom real braveness is
found.
All this, on the first day…… One day at a time.
Your daddy and I, we love you more than you know and we are
forever thankful that God gave us you. Here’s to another fabulous school
year. Together.
Love Always,
Your Mommy
Raegan's actual first day pictures.......
