For some this post will seem to come too early but I know that college students are returning to school this week and in some places elementary and high school students are at the end of summer vacation. So, it’s time to pray: for them; for their teachers; and for the parents and families who send them off to school.
Below you’ll find three prayers I wrote for those who are returning to the classroom: one for parents, one for students and one for teachers. Following these three prayers, you’ll find two offerings for Empty Nesters: one from my own reflection and the second taken from Diana Macalintal’s fine book, The Work of Your Hands: Prayers for Ordinary and Extraordinary Moments of Grace.
In addition to you and your immediate family, are there others in your extended family, among your neighbors and friends or in your parish who might benefit from these prayers? Please do pass them on!
You might think of praying the Student’s Prayer at home with your children, on the first day of school. Or you could slip a copy into backpacks and lunch kits – and of course, the family bulletin board or the trusty refrigerator door provide good homes for these prayers.
Dear God,
Help me remember that you’re always by my side,
at school and all day long.
Help me be the best student I can be,
using all the gifts and talents you’ve given me.
Help me study well and often
– especially when I don’t feel like studying at all!
Help me finish all my homework – on time.
Help me listen to my teachers and coaches.
Help me play fair and play safely.
Help me be honest when I’m tempted to cheat.
Help me always tell the truth.
Help me be kind to everyone at school
and to treat others as I’d want them to treat me.
Help me make good friends
and help me be a good friend to others.
Help me see how I can help others
and to ask for help when I need it myself.
Help me love and respect, trust and appreciate my parents
– and be honest with them.
Help me remember that you’re with me always, Lord,
and that you’ll never leave my side.
Amen.
A Parent’s Prayer for Students
Dear Lord,
As my children leave for school,
I pray you keep them in your care.
Send your Spirit to open their minds
to all that’s true and beautiful and good.
Help them see the gifts and talents
you have given them
and teach them to use them well.
Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
Help them to be kind to others
and lead others to be kind to them.
Give their teachers patience and understanding
and help them teach what’s just and true.
Send your angels to guide and guard my children
and to keep them from all harm.
Open their young hearts to your presence
and enfold them in your peace and protection.
Hold them in the palm of your hand, Lord,
and at day’s end, bring them safely home.
Amen.
A Teacher’s Prayer
Dear God,
A new school year is about to begin
and my classroom door will soon open
to the students you’ve assigned to my care…
Open my mind and heart to each of them
and especially to the ones
who will challenge me the most…
Help me challenge my students, all of them,
to study, to learn, to grow in knowledge
and even a little wisdom…
Help me remember, Lord,
how young my students are:
give me patience to help them grow up
and insight to know the help they need…
Help me understand that sometimes
my students may not understand me:
help me be clear in all I say and do…
My students don’t know the burdens and worries
my heart brings to the classroom, Lord,
so help me remember
how anxious and how heavy my students’ hearts may be…
Keep me from favoring any particular students, Lord,
except for those who need my help the most…
Let my choices and decisions in the classroom
be fair and just, honest and true…
Send your Spirit to fill me with gifts
of knowledge and understanding, counsel and wisdom…
Lord, open my mind and heart to my students’ parents,
especially those who’ll challenge me the most…
Help me challenge parents to challenge their children
to study, to learn and to grow…
Teach me to teach as you would, Lord:
with understanding when I need to be firm,
with gentleness in all things
When a son is leaving home:
Yes… I understand,
but it was, in part, just for this
that you brought him into the world:
for him to grow and mature,
to begin to be on his own,
loving you not any less at all
and perhaps even loving you more
and how you’ll love him yet
as he becomes more and more his own man,
Through your tears,
ask God to help you find the joy
that should be yours
in seeing the fine young man you’ve raised:
your son, born of you,
of your love and all your care…
Yes…. I understand
that you brought her into the world:
for her to grow and mature,
to begin to be on her own,
and perhaps even loving you more
for all you’ve given her up ’til now
and how you’ll lover her yet
as she becomes more and more her own woman,
Through your tears,
ask God to help you find the joy
that should be yours
in seeing the fine young woman you’ve raised:
your daughter, born of you,
of your love and your care…
And here’s Diana Macalintal’s Parent’s Prayer When Children are Leaving Home, in two versions: for a daughter, for a son.
A Parent’s Prayer When A Daughter Leaves Home
Gracious God, you blessed me with the gift of my child
and entrusted me with her care.
Surround her with good people and watch over her each day.
And let her know that I will always be near
whenever she may need me.
Heal any hurts we may harbor with each other
and forgive our failings
as we learn to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.
And when the sight of her empty room
pierces my heart with sadness,
may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,
filled with your grace and sheltered by your love.
Amen.
Copyright 2014 by Order of Saint Benedict.
Published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota.
Used with permission.
and entrusted me with his care.
Now he leaves this home and begins a new life apart from me.
Surround him with good people and watch over him each day.
And let him know that I will always be near
whenever he may need me.
Heal any hurts we may harbor with each other
and forgive our failings
as we learn to be in a new kind of relationship with each other.
And when the sight of his empty room
pierces my heart with sadness,
may I find comfort in knowing that my child is your child too,
filled with your grace and sheltered by your love.
Amen.
Copyright 2014 by Order of Saint Benedict.
Published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota.
Used with permission.
