The following is a Backpack Blessing read by 2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson at the 2024 Encourager Church and Advocacy Breakfast hosted at General Assembly.
Luke 24: 50-53 “50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”
Blessed is the child who comes to school hungry
And the cafeteria worker who heaps an extra portion
You are made of stardust and God celebrates you
Blessed is the high schooler who cheats on their math test
And the teacher who listens to their story instead of forking out a punishment
You reflect the infinite and God dances over you
Blessed is the third grader who sits with the kindergarten
And the bus driver who notices them both
You each are woven and spun and God smiles over you
Blessed is the teenager who throws up between classes as a way to control their day
And the counselor who gets them help
You are made in the image of the Divine and God reaches out to hold you
Blessed are the overworked principals, the teachers whose hearts are burdened. Blessed are the all-in school nurses and speech pathologists. Blessed are the after school care workers, the subs, the tutors, the librarians, and the volunteers who carve out one more hour for one more kid.
You might be the reason a child came to school today. And while God cries each tear of yearning with you, God also rejoices in each hug, each smile, each word of affirmation, each benchmark. You are a new creation, beloved ambassadors of God’s message of reconciliation.
Blessed is every backpack, the kids who wear these backpacks, and the educators who fill them.
Blessed are the recess kickball stars, the bookworms, the math nerds, the artists, the newcomers, the lifers, the quiet ones, the loud ones, the everything-in-between ones.
You are no mere mortals and we are the blessed ones…to get to spend our days with you.
Amen.
I’m going to bring down my hands, but remember that Jesus never did. He ascended with his scarred hands outstretched, reaching always towards us.
May we be an extension of those hands.