First Grade

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.

Psalm 121:7

Remember your first day of all-day school? When I went to school, first grade was the initiation into a full school day from eight to three. No more kindergarten luxuries like lunch at home and nap time!

I’ll never forget walking into Mrs. Attridge’s first-grade classroom, my hand holding firmly on to my mother’s. I looked at the desks lined up, the big chalkboard, and the teacher’s desk at the front of the room and was scared to death. Clinging to my mama’s hand, I looked up at her and said, “Will you meet me when I come out?” She assured me that she would. Only then did I let go of her hand, and I kept my eye on her as she left the classroom and went into the hall.

A little while later, when Mrs. Attridge walked us out of the room to go to the restroom, I burst into tears. My mother wasn’t there when I got out! In my six-year-old mind, I thought she was going to stand in the hall outside the classroom door and guard me all day long.

My kind teacher came over, wrapped me in her arms, and asked me what was wrong. In between my “boo hoos” I repeated, “My mom said she’d be here when I came out! My mom said she’d be here when I came out!” Mrs. Attridge said that my mom meant that she would be there to pick me up after school. And true to her word, my mother was there after school, reassuring and comforting me.

What is even more comforting is knowing that God is constantly on guard and will never leave us or forsake us. He has promised to be with us always, every minute of every day.

Thank God today that He never leaves us for a moment. He is watching over our lives at all times, guarding our ways and our hearts!