My granddaughter, Emily Nash, began her teaching career this week. She has been working hard all summer to prepare her classroom and curriculum. I wrote this prayer as a blessing for her; but I have edited it here to include all teachers, students, and staff as they face a particularly challenging and uncertain year.

Blessed are You, God of love, truth, goodness, and beauty. As our teachers prepare for a year of teaching, bless them, their classrooms, and all the kids who will soon gather.

You have already blessed our teachers with gifts and training. Now bless them with

• Enthusiasm for the tasks ahead
• Patience amid resistance
• Gentleness amid conflict
• Empathy for the troubled
• Steadfastness when discouraged
• Perseverance amid failure and mistakes
• And joy when progress is evident

Bless the classrooms with beauty that

• Sparks imagination
• Enhances learning
• Invites inquiry
• Stimulates questions
• Fosters belonging
• Facilitates cooperation
• Feels like home.

Bless the students with

• Eagerness to learn and grow
• Trust in their inherent worth and dignity
• Willingness to learn from mistakes
• Confidence in their ability and potential
• Openness to guidance and correction
• A sense of belonging in a community of learning.

Bless the administrators and staff with

• Respect for one another
• Love and compassion for ALL students
• Mutual accountability for nurturing a learning community
• Enduring commitment to excellence in education and formation.

Bless and fill each school with Love, Truth, Goodness, and Beauty so that each may be a beacon of hope for a world of peace, justice, and liberty for ALL people. Amen.