Partners in Parenting

This is the LAST Partners in Parenting until September!

"It's Time To Go!"

Last week, Jen and I decided to go see a movie.  We both arrived home about 6pm, quickly ate supper with the kids, and got ready to leave for the 7pm movie we wanted to see.  We were excited to go on a "date" even though it was a weeknight, so we kept reminding each other, "It's time to go!"  I got in the car first.  Jen got in on the passenger side and started to place her purse on the floor by her feet when she screamed like I haven't heard in a looooonnnnnnnngggggggg time!  I thought it was "time to go" to the movies.  She thought it was "time to go" out of the car in an instant.  She was out of that car so fast and about 20 feet away half-yelling and half-laughing.  She left her windows open when she got home, and a bird had flown into her car while we had supper.  I got a baseball bat to slip under the bird and get him out so he could fly to safety.  It was a very young hawk who could barely fly away.  For that young hawk, it was "time to go" back to its nest.

"It's time to go" on summer vacation in a few weeks, but it will still be "time to go" to church each week.  I want to remind everyone of this because God calls us to come to worship Him and be strengthened in our faith.  Summer vacation is for school, not for church.  I pray that you'll be devoted to regular worship this summer.  It is urgent for our spiritual growth.  More urgent than a movie or getting out of the car!!  We need to be like the first Christian churches in Acts regarding coming together for worship - they were devoted to it.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42

I'll see you in church this summer!!

Family Discussion Points!

Talk about summer vacation plans.

Discuss who is typically late and has to be reminded "It's time to go?"

Talk about the importance of being in church with other Christians. (NOTE:  It is a commandment [#3])

Partners in Parenting

"A Light Walk and A Dark Walk!"

I had the opportunity to go for a walk this past weekend.  The interesting thing about my walk was that I left about an hour before daylight, and eventually, I came to a woods with about 45 minutes of time before the sky would begin to lighten with the rising sun.  The walk across a field and along a fence row was very easy to do without using a flashlight.  My eyes adjusted to the darkness around me because there was actually plenty of light available - even though it was completely cloudy.  When I came to the woods, I stepped in among the large trees.  Within a few steps, I couldn't see a thing.  I had to turn on my flashlight because my eyes couldn't adjust to darkness that dark.  That experience reminded me of how God is the light of the world, but life without God is darkness.  I could see where I was going so long as I chose to walk in the light God provided me as I traversed the field and fence row.  But that light was not evident when I chose to walk in a place where God's light was blocked from my vision (in the woods).  I had to use my flashlight to spread light in that dark place.  Our lives in Christ are like that walk.  It is wise to stay in the light of God, but when darkness envelopes us at times in life, we need to provide light to those places too.  Parents, I pray that you'll keep showing God's light in the lives of your children so their "dark days" are filled with God's great love!!  "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."  I John 1:5

Family Discussion Points!

Where is the darkest place you've ever been.

If God is light, who is darkness (Satan).

Share any ways family members spread light to other family members.

Partners in Parenting

"Powerful Reminders!"

Last week, I was so excited to get an afternoon to myself to spend in the woods.  I love to be out in the woods to walk, explore, think, and relax.  I drove to the farm I grew up on ready to make the half mile walk to the woods, but upon arrival, I found my dad struggling to untangle some rope.  At 82 years old, my dad's hands don't work very well any longer, and he needed the rope to plant a straight line in his garden.  I spent time helping him in the garden, but I was really thinking about the woods.  He got the first seeds in the ground, and he was so excited.  He even pumped his fist and said, "There'll be red beets soon!"  The rain drops had just started falling as he was planting.  Then, the sky grew darker and darker.  My dad and I talked in the garage and watched the rain fall.  The dark sky turned grey due to the torrential downpour that ensued.  Hail, wind, and tons of rain all came very quickly.  I thought to myself, "I hope those red beets know how to swim," but I couldn't say that to my dad (see picture #1).  I was very frustrated to realize that I wouldn't get to make my trip to the woods, but I was suddenly thankful I didn't get caught out in that storm. 

Powerful reminder - I can only control so much in life, but I can't control everything.  God's in control of everything, not me.  In the flow of life, that sometimes frustrates me, but ultimately, I am so thankful that God is in control.  His knowledge, power, presence, love, grace, and forgiveness is beyond my own, and that is a very good thing.  (NOTE:  A few hours later, I got another powerful reminder of God's control in my life - see picture #2 of double full rainbow)

As parents, things happen that are powerful reminders that we aren't always in control of our children's decisions.  They make mistakes.  They disappoint us.  Our job is to respond with powerful reminders of our love, grace, and forgiveness just as God does.  Yes, we provide consequences when appropriate, but we also respond in love.  That is a powerful reminder to our children that they are loved.

Family Discussion Points!

Talk about who is in control of things in your home (toys, yard work, cooking, etc.)

Talk about whether control is a good thing or a bad thing.  How and why?

Is God's ultimate control comforting or not as you live?

Partners in Parenting

Partners in Parenting

"Watching Your Kids Grow Up!”

The other day, I took Zeke, our 4 month old Lab, out to the lake in hopes that he'd swim.  I'd taken him to the lake on a number of other occasions, but he hadn't gone swimming yet.  Every time we went, I'd walk out into deeper water in my waders hoping he'd swim out to me.  He would go in the water, but he'd always keep his feet on the ground.  I didn't force him to swim by throwing him in the lake.  I just encouraged him.   On this trip, he started to swim, and he found it to be so much fun.  He seemed so proud of himself, and I was certainly proud of him.

Parents, I hope you know that proud feeling you have when your child did something for the first time - when they took their first steps, said "mommy," rode a two-wheel bike, or earned an award.  Maybe you've also had a proud feeling when you saw your child do something unique and helpful that you didn't expect - took out the trash without being asked, held a door open for someone, used good manners at a restaurant, or received some kind of recognition from others.  These are a part of growing up, but these things that make you so proud don't just happen on their own.  They happen as a result of the encouragement and opportunities that you provide for your child beforehand.  All the things that occur leading up to the success are vitally important.  Ultimately, it is the child's moment of success, but there is nothing wrong with being proud of your kids as they grow and mature in life.  Jesus did this as well, and he had God and others proud of him for what he was doing:  "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52 

 Family Discussion Points!

Talk about some firsts and how it went - potty training, riding a bike, day of school, etc.

Discuss "good proud" and "bad proud" in life.

Parents, tell your kids how proud you are of them - be specific about why.