A Blessing as You Return...

To school, work, rhythms and routines—wanted and unwanted

As the summer winds down (but does it ever really in Georgia?) we, as a collective society begin to synchronize our rhythms and routines more.

As we return to another school year, new jobs, sports practices, fuller calendars, and more scheduled days—may we remind ourselves that we are brave for just showing up.

We wave to the same parents in the drop-off line.

We grab the same coffee mug as we head out the door in the morning.

We listen to the same weekly podcast on our commute home.

We go to the same story-time hour at the library.

We pray amidst it all.

We hope we’re doing a good enough job.

We’re tired and weary.

We’re full of life and joy.

We return and hold space for the sacred in all.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

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This blessing today is a prayer over you, dear reader, as you enter back into rhythms and routines again that are following what your summer held. I don’t know about you, but I had great plans for the summer, I even sat my kids down and we made a daily schedule of things we’d try to do each week—which all went out the window within a few days.

You are doing a great job.

Hold kindness for yourself as you enter back into routines and time schedules, homework and earlier mornings, practices and meetings. Hold kindness for others as they may be enjoying the shift back into routines, or may have more resistance to it than anticipated.

In all, I pray you experience the tender love of God.

I encourage you to imagine the Trinity praying this over you today.

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A Blessing as You Return

I bless you, as you return to the table of routines, even as the weather continues to hold a humidity that still reminds you of summer bliss.

Life has returned to school drop-offs, homeschool morning times, work meetings, dentist appointments, and sports practices.

Some days, the normal may feel welcomed and open to possibilities.

Other days, the normal may feel foreign as it holds an emptiness that you weren’t anticipating.

Many feelings may rise, a deep exhale may happen, or tears start their flood.

All is welcome as you return.

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As you take a deep breath and raise your head—

name where you were this summer,

and name the road you’re looking down this fall.

It is brave to show up to your real life—the true, raw, painful beauty of what is.

You are brave.

You are seen.

You are not forgotten.

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I bless the hands that will share meals around a table, or leave smudge marks on the car window.

I bless the early morning minutes trying to whisper a prayer as you shuffle kids out the door and the dog runs out with them.

I bless the middle of the night newborn feedings that may also hold sleep-eyed presence to pre-teen conversations.

I bless the cereal bowls left in the sink and the laundry that piles up because there are so many sports practices.

I bless the homeschool mom driving a kid to work with a screaming toddler on the backseat.

I bless your mundane, holy life—all of it.

As you return to the familiar that feels safe, or the newness that holds so many unknowns—may you feel the presence of God in all.

Substack always offers their writers the option to open up for paid subscriptions. I know many writers on this platform offer this to their subscribers, but for me, I hope to always keep what I offer here in this space free of charge. My husband and I serve in support-based missions work in diaspora ministry, specifically in immigrant and refugee care. If you want to support my writing—you could give a one-time or recurring donation to our ministry and that would be a huge blessing.