As summer draws to a close, and the back-to-school season approaches, we have a wonderful opportunity to slow down the rush and create intentional moments of connection and encouragement. The tradition of sending thoughtful greeting cards is not out dated. In fact, if you find your brain smoking from an overload of signups, emails, online shopping, forms, calendar syncing, and record requests I'd say it's the anti-dote to the digital madness. Taking a moment to breathe, think of a blessing for the day, and write it down can reframe your focus and calm your mind. Cards are just a form of journaling that can be shared. This creates even MORE opportunity because you can pass that calm and focus to the people you know need it too.
Like your children.
One way to really bring mindfulness into the start of the school year is to write blessings, prayers, scriptures, and reminders over your children and slip them into their lunch boxes or leave them at their homeschool spot. I know this works to set your child up for success because I've seen the effect on my own child. My husband leaves my daughter a note every morning on his way out the door to work. When my daughter gets up, she races to the kitchen table to see what her Daddy wrote. Sometimes he writes her memory verse, sometimes he encourages her to try hard things, sometimes he reminds her to have a kind attitude. In all things, he is conveying love. Our heavenly Father's love. I wish you could see her face light up at his message. I'll just have to let you experience that for yourself.
Not only do lunch notes brighten your child's day and strengthen your bond even when you're not around, it can also help anxious children make it through their day. There are a lot of dynamics at play during the start of the year for children, new routines, new friends, new classes, and it can be overwhelming.
Words like "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged" - Joshua 1:9 or
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid." - Psalm 56:3-4 can really bolster a timid or uneasy kid.
This month's subscription box has a set of lunch box notes designed to encourage your kids.
Another way to use them is to leave a few blanks for your child to write their own notes. Allowing them to create their own acts of kindness can foster a positive and caring environment within the school community. If you can encourage them to slip a struggling classmate a kind note (am I condoning passing notes?...maybe... ;) or if they jot a short word of thanks to an overworked teacher or staff, you are enabling their lights to shine at a much higher wattage.
It's also back to school time for teachers. They are getting their class rosters for the year, and many face the start of the year with a lot of anxiety, trepidation and worry. Our children's teachers put a lot of time and effort into preparing their classrooms and curriculum and I know they worry about not having enough supplies, or if their material be engaging enough for the kids while still preparing them for government testing. They worry over what the kids in their class will be like, what challenges will the kids be facing, will they be equipped to support and help their kids?
A short note of encouragement, prayer, and appreciation can go MILES for a teacher. They can revisit those words when the year gets tough. Teachers may not make a lot of money, but their job shapes our children, our childrens' friends, and the world. The teachers our children get this year were hand-selected by God. He knows who and what our kids need to thrive. Let's remind our teachers and our teacher friends just how important they are, and that they've got this!
I've just released my back to school greeting cards so you can grab as many as you need. The boxed sets are great- you can send them out individually to all the teachers on your list, or grab a few sets to gift for teacher appreciation.
Another great tool you can grab is the subscription box for this month. It has a small collection of cards to choose from as well as the lunchbox notes, stickers, pens, and everything you need to create those intentional moments! (because nobody has time to run around trying to find everything when you only have 5 minutes)
Let's make this back to school a time of great purpose and intention despite all the rush. It is a GREAT opportunity to ground ourselves and let the Son shine.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
joyfully,
Aurie