First Days

This week I have loved seeing all the first-day-of-school pictures my friends have posted. The kindergarten ones and first graders are adorable.  But I also enjoy the older ones with a little embarrassment added to their photo shoot.

When I was a kid, my mom took a picture of us on the first day of first grade. With my kids, I think I snapped a shot with each new school, but I wouldn’t swear to it. Now with the ubiquity of phone cameras, it seems most parents take a picture for the first day of school every single year. Even those sitting in their college dorm room. I love that, because I know that behind every camera is a parent trying to make that first day of the new school year go well.

I remember how important the first day was in setting the tone for the whole year. If the teacher smiled at me on day one, I felt like she liked me the whole year. If I had trouble finding someone to sit with at lunch on the first day, then I had a little social anxiety every day thereafter. If I aced my first quiz, my confidence elevated for the whole year. If I raised my hand to answer a question and got it wrong, I was slow to offer my answer the rest of the year. If someone made fun of me, my self-perception wilted and if someone gave me a compliment, it bloomed.

Whether it went well or not, the first day of school always felt like the ultimate of clean slates.  New clothes, new shoes, new spiral notebooks, sharp points on every pencil, fresh paper covers on old text books, and a new row in the teacher’s grade book. It was a gift of fresh optimism and I received it.

We don’t seem to get that “first day” feeling very often as adults. Maybe on January 1^st when we set resolutions for the new year. Or when we get a new journal. Or change jobs. Or move houses. Infrequent opportunities for fresh starts are further evidence that adulting can be hard.

Yet I do get that clean slate feeling every single day.  Here’s why. Walking with Jesus Christ means that today I woke up to a barrel of new mercies. Lamentations 3:22-23 [ESV] says:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Yesterday I wasn’t a nice person, but this morning He gave me new mercy.

Yesterday I was a little grouchy, but this morning He gave me new mercy.

Yesterday I had a judgmental attitude, but this morning He gave me new mercy.

Yesterday I tripped over my own pride, but this morning He gave me new mercy.

Yesterday I cut someone off on the Eastex Freeway, but this morning He gave me new mercy.

Yesterday I passed up a chance to help a homeless man, but this morning He gave me new mercy.

Yesterday I did a few good things, but I had hoped to do better.

And today my forgiving Father brought His endless supply of mercies to me for the 42 billionth time. Like a good parent, He wants me to have a good first day. The first day after He cleaned me up again. The first day after He wiped His slate clear of my yesterday list of wrongs. The first day of the rest of my days spent walking with Him.