“Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you—never. Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.”(Isa 49: 15)

So last week was “back-to-school” for the Steele house, and my daughter, Bethany (God bless her) isn’t big on breaks in the routine; she’s not keen on anything new. New makes her nervous, at least in the initial phases.  Although there was an air of excitement in the back-to-school build-up (she made a 30-day paper chain countdown for goodness sake—something you couldn’t have paid me to do as a kid), my wife and I knew that kindergarten would bring a king-sized carton of new with it:

A new building, new teachers, new bedtime and wake-up routines, a new classroom filled with new kids and a brand new, first-time trip to school on the bus with her brother.

Knowing that the new was near, in the weeks leading up, Bethany mentioned to her mommy that she’d really like a memento of sorts that would remind her of home. Soon thereafter, Emily bought her a heart-shaped locket and fashioned it to contain a photograph of our family on one side and our two cats on the other.  Bethany was thrilled to receive the locket as a gift before bedtime prayers the evening prior and was proud to pair it as an accessory with her new outfit.

When morning came, we didn’t know what to expect:  celebratory fireworks or an S.O.S emergency flare. But there we stood at the end of the driveway in the Thursday morning fog. We’d already given kisses, said our well-wishes, snapped a few pictures and closed the locket a time or two after some 11^th hour glances.

The roar of the bus made its way up the hill and soon flashed its signal lights to stop in front of the house.  Bethany was stoically holding the brave hand of her brother. Emily and I were holding our breath. 

With the hiss of the air brakes, the school bus doors flung open and I waited for the levy of a little girl’s tears to break in sequence…but no.  No tears. No celebratory smiles either.  With a seasoned brother behind her, Bethany took a Neil Armstrong-like step onto that bus.

To her, it might as well have been the moon.

In no time, the bus continued its roaring ascent up Oakmont hill to gather other kindergarten cadets.  Needless to say, I returned to the house holding a smile, watching my wife holding back tears because she watched our daughter board the bus holding that locket.  

I’d like to think it was the faces of the family that helped a 5 year-old face her fears of the unknown and new. Perhaps she held fast to the faces so that she wouldn’t forget who she was, where she was from, or to whom she belonged…that she’d never forget that she is never forsaken.  Whether you’re 5 or you’re 50, we’d do well to remember that too.  Take it with you. Tattoo Isaiah’s words on your heart: your name is etched on His hands.  The King of Creation cannot and will not forget about you. Regardless of what the day brings, don’t you forget about that.