Back to School Survival Kit

Can you believe that the start of a new school year is upon us? By the end of the week, the majority of our students and educators will be back in the school grind. There are so many opportunities for a new school year, but a bunch of challenges as well. That being the case, I thought I'd share this "Back to School Survival Kit" with you, to offer some encouragement as the reading, writing, and arithmetic resumes in earnest:

·       Toothpick: To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.

ü  Do not judge, or you too will be judged. (Matthew 7:1)

·       Rubber Band: To remind you to be flexible, things might not always to the way you want, but it will work out.

ü  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

·       Band-Aid: To remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.

ü  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

·       Pencil: To remind you to list your blessings every day.

ü  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

·       Eraser: To remind you that everyone makes mistakes and it's okay.

ü  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

·       Chewing Gum:  To remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything with Jesus.

ü   I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

·       Mint: To remind you that you are worth a mint to your Heavenly Father.

ü  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

·       Candy Hugs: To remind you that everyone needs a hug every day.

ü  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

May the items in this “Back to School Survival Kit” be of assistance to you at the start of this new school year, or for your next lesson in the proverbial school of hard knocks.