“Lord Jesus, thank you for this new day! Thank you for the sunshine. I know you will remain with my children throughout the day, and for that I’m grateful.

Please give all my boys confidence, courage, kindness and compassion at school today.

May they be an encouragement to their friends and teachers throughout the school day. I pray they will shine your light of love in their hearts so that others will be drawn to you. Guide their thoughts, words and actions throughout the day.

Lord, please put a hedge of protection with your guardian angels around the school and in their classrooms. I trust you will give them discernment from your Spirit to recognize deception, and wisdom to understand your truth.

Please create opportunities for them to share your love with their friends. May they have favor and success in the things they try to accomplish today? Holy Spirit, please help them retain the lessons they’re learning in class, and remind them to bring their thoughts to you throughout the day. Thank you for being a constant presence and comfort to them.

Thank you for our cousins and our friends who are also learning in school or at home today. I pray that you will bring friends into their lives who love you so that they will have a daily interaction with you, Jesus.

Thank you for our family, Lord. Extend your favor, protection and blessing to them today. Thank you Jesus. We love you, and we pray all these things in your precious, powerful name.

Amen.”

My boys are back in school now and this is the prayer I pray out loud for them each morning as we’re waiting in the drop-off line. I started praying for their confidence, courage, kindness and compassion many years ago when my Kindergartener was consumed with anxiety and fear. Over the years it has been such a cool thing to witness my boys recognizing God’s answer to those prayers.

Whether our children are in public school, private school or homeschool, they are learning and growing every day. And as parents, we are the best teachers for our kids . . .

because God chose us.

Even if they’re learning outside the home, God gives us the opportunities and resources necessary to train our children in His truth. We need to take advantage of every opportunity God provides.

Let’s make it a priority to teach them how to love, encourage and spread kindness in their own little communities.

God loves children and uses them in powerful ways to share His love with people – young and old! We need to set the example with our prayers and with our presence. Initiating conversations that draw their attention to the ways God is moving will help them focus on the good things during the school day, and that will influence their thoughts, words and behaviors throughout the week.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

Kindness and care begins at home. And God so graciously allows even our children to share that kindness with their friends as a witness of His love. I’m praying that my fellow moms are encouraged with this truth, because your efforts at home really do influence your little ones for good and God’s glory!

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