Mark that one off my to-do list

Well, the first day of school has officially come and gone. Overall, it was a pretty good day. I am pleased with the way my students bought into everything I told them today and I think we may be off to another great year!

I was just looking at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website because, well, I'm too cheap to actually pay for the paper. I also know that if I paid for it, I wouldn't read it. Anyway, they had several pictures of the "First Day of School" from lots of local districts. As I was looking at the pictures I was reminded of something that I think everyone should remember. It was the picture of a mother crying as she said goodbye to her kindergarten student that got me. Honestly, my first thought was why in the world is she crying? School is such a good thing! I know it's a big day and everything, I just didn't see it from her perspective. Then I started thinking, parents don't bring their kids to school all dressed up with new school supplies because they think school is such a wonderful place. They bring them because they have to, it's the law. They bring their kids to school and trust us to do something they themselves can't do (not that they can't, it's just not feasible for most). They basically say, here is my most prized possession please take care of it and return it to me better than when you got it.

I find this level of trust very humbling. Most of the eighteen sets of parents that sent their kids to me this morning don't really have any idea who I am or what kind of person I am, but still they sent me their very best. They trust me to take care of them for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. They trust me to fill their minds, make sure their stomachs get fed, and to develop their character. It is an incredible responsibility and in some round about way God has made it clear to me that this is what I was made for.