Partners in Parenting, March 14, 2011

Gunshots at my house!

Yep, it's true.  The other night, I sat in bed reading while Jenny slept next to me.  As I read, I heard two loud "pops" outside my house.  I slipped out of bed and peeked out the front door window.  I could see two pair of headlights and two sets of exhausts coming out of two cars.  I couldn't see the cars since they were right behind the large pine tree in the front yard.  My first thought was that there was an altercation going on.  Then, I saw four people up by the church in the bushes.  Two of them began walking to my left when I saw the glow of their police officer reflective patches on their shoulder.  OK - at least I felt safe now, but I wondered what they were doing.  After a few moments the police officers dragged the deer they had to shoot out of the bushes.  It must have been hit by a car, and that is part of the responsibilities of police officers.  I was certainly startled to attention that night.  As we enter into the season of Lent, I can't help but think of where this is all headed.  It is certainly headed to Jesus death for our benefit.  It is certainly headed for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter.  But we are also headed to Jesus' multiple appearances to verify that He had indeed risen.  He appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-25).  They must have been as startled as two people possibly could be to discover they had just walked along the road and talked to the same Jesus of Nazareth that they had just seen crucified.  Just like me, they were startled, then reassured!  Please take time to read Luke 24 as a family in preparation for this Lenten and Easter season.

Family Discussion Points!

Just talk about what you read in Luke 24.  Enjoy!

Students vs Staff Basketball game

Parents,

I hope you will come for an evening of fun Friday, March 4th at 6:30pm for some basketball.  Pep Squad and Cheerleaders will perform, and we'll also have a parent attempting to win $500 or $1,000 off their 2011-12 tuition.

Hope to see you there for the fun!!

Mr. Petzold

Partners in Parenting, Feb 28, 2011

What Does Love Look Like?

I was in an area Walgreen's the other day to witness a very unusual exchange between a customer and a worker.  The customer was very loud, rude, and demeaning to the worker.  The worker continued to be calm, helpful, and supportive of the real desires of the customer (to get her prescription ASAP).  After the whole exchange ended, I went to the pharmacy counter to share with the worker how impressed I was with how she handled the situation.  She just said thanks for noticing and "It wasn't any big deal."  My reply was that it was a big deal because that was real customer service in action when it wasn't easy.  After I left, I thought about how love is like that - in essence, she displayed love to that customer.  It's easy to love your kids when they are obeying and behaving well, but it is tough to due when they are rude and disrespectful.  I also noticed how that worker stayed focused on what the customer needed without considering her own need to be respected as an employee.  Do I keep loving and helping as a parent when I'm not respected by my children?  Do I stay focused on what they need instead of my own needs?  Sometimes loving our children is tough because it involves punishment and discipline, but it is what they need.  Sometimes loving our children means protecting them, serving them, sharing with them, helping them, etc.  Love looks different for every situation, but love looks like something because it is an action, not a feeling!  Notice Jesus' action!  "This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."  I John 3:16

Family Discussion Points!

Share a time when someone has talked mean to you or tried to hurt you with words.

Talk about tough love and what it looks like.

Parents, share with your children what it means to love them enough to provide them with consequences.

Then, share a time when your parents did that for you!