On school days, my husband and I (Pam) take turns dropping off our two girls at school.  Aria is 14 and making her way through 8th grade.  Emileigh is nearly 16 and has successfully navigated school up through 10th grade.  

 

One of the great joys as parents is knowing that you’re imparting to your children a sense of worth, a feeling of purpose.  To remind them of their value, their dad will slowly pull up to the school and let them begin unloading backpacks, instruments, lunches, etc.  Once they have everything in hand, they begin their walk up the sidewalk.  Slowly he presses the button that rolls the window down.  Just as they think they’ve made it into the clear, he’ll yell, “Arrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaa!  I loooooooovvvvvve yooooooooooou!” Not forgetting the now walking-quickly tenth grader he says, “I loooooooooooooooove yooooooooou, toooooooooooo, Emileigh!”  Now our future track stars are running for the door.  I guess they are anxious to see their friends.

 

I try the more subtle approach.  I have a camera ready for any potential “Kodak-moment” that could occur.  Unfortunately, I see many more opportunities for these blessed events than my children do.  With a collective groan, they see me reach for the camera.  First day of school?  Click.  First day standing on the school sidewalk?  Click.  First day walking on the school sidewalk?  Click.  First day saying hello to friends on the school sidewalk?  Click.  First day reaching the door of the school?  Click.  You get the picture and so do they.  Countless pictures of life in the making, demonstrating to them that even mundane portions of their lives are important to us because we love them.

 

In years to come, they’ll remember hearing their daddy yell, “I love you!” and smile knowing they are cherished.  They’ll also have memories through the pictures I’ve taken and collected through the years and know that they are valued.

 

As you pull up to your day and begin to unload all of the events, God is shouting, “I love you!”  As you begin all of your “firsts,” God has you in His mind’s eye capturing each moment and cherishing you, His child.

 

Pam and Kathy’s 7 Tips to Successful School Mornings