It’s the end of the school year, y’all.

Parents, teachers, coaches, administration, and students are exhausted – no doubt.

If you live in the area of Texas that Hurricane Harvey hit you’ve lived through one whopper of a school year. This year the storms were bigger, the flu bug was stronger, and the inevitable STAAR test stress still lingered.

Tutorials, ice days, lice days (yep, I said it), field trips, awards, end of the year parties, teacher gifts, STAAR data, summer camps, fundraisers, practices, lesson plans, summer childcare, homework, end of the year projects, packing up classrooms, administrative paperwork – I seriously could keep going.

The struggle is really real.

I’ve said all that to say this – at this point in the 2017-2018 school year we all need a little nap and a whole lotta grace. Grace for ourselves and grace to extend to others.

Guys, it’s been a rough, daunting year. Let’s not forget that. Let’s remember that everyone has their own part in this play called “Life” – most starring in multiple roles.

And even though we are personally worn and weary, let’s lift our heads up and look into the eyes of others.

See their hurt.

See their pain.

See their exhaustion.

Extend a smile.

Extend grace.

Extend a helping hand.

And as we walk away whisper a small prayer.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2