A Psalm of Thanks for the School Year (Based on Psalm 150)
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in the classrooms and lunchrooms
Praise God in the administrative offices
praise God on the fields and bandrooms
praise God in the science labs and art rooms
praise God on the playground.
Praise God for acts of power
praise God for moments of compassion
for days of new rules and precautions
for safety and care for the neighbor
for learning in new and creative ways.
Praise God with the sound of school bells
praise God with laughter and song
praise God with cheers and shouts on the playground
praise God with friends saying hello
praise God with ABC’s and 123’s
praise God with “please” and “thank you.”
Praise God with fidgety hands and wiggly bodies
praise God with feet pumping through the air on swings
praise God with clapping hands and tapping feet
praise God with hugs and high-fives
praise God with legs criss-cross applesauce
praise God with bodies all in line.
Praise God with unending thanks
for the teachers, staff, and administrators
who showed up in person and on screens
day after day
with hearts ready to teach.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ordained ELCA pastor, mother of two, and spouse of an ELCA pastor. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, MO. You can read more at her website, follow her work on Facebook, or sign up for her monthly newsletter.