An Invitation

Lord, please be with us today-
Bless our school in every way.
We promise to
Listen to
Everything You say!

Help us as we learn new things,
Guide us as we count and sing.
When Mama speaks
We'll be meek
To honor You, our King!

Lord, we want to learn and grow,
Because You gave us minds, and so
We'll begin
Following
The way that we should go!

This is how our school days begin. Without fail, rain or shine. Sometimes, our school song is sung with gusto; little chests swelling, lisped words sung off-key (but with feeling!). Sometimes it is sung begrudgingly, as Mama began singing while there was still *fun* to be had, and little boys must now draaaaaag themselves to the table.

However it is sung, through simple words our Ever-Present Help is invited to be seated with us. He has a chair of His own, but He knows not to rest His elbows on the table, for it is almost always sticky. Sometimes Eliana even forgets He is there and crawls into His lap, but he chuckles quietly and lets her stay. He is a quiet presence, but a comforting One, for when Cor struggles with distraction, I lean my head close and we remember, together, that He is with us and quietly watching over. When I begin to lose my patience with Eliana's interruptions, the sticky shine from His end of the table reminds me that He puts up with so much more- from me.

We invite Him, again and again, and He just keeps coming! We pray for help at the break of day, and He answers.

Don't wait until your table is clean. Try not to pull your little one from His lap, afraid He will be disturbed. Don't be embarrassed when your pupils have forgotten the lessons they learned the day before.

Sing with gusto, and off-key, while you're at it. He will come! So pull out a sticky chair and begin the day.