Partners in Parenting

"What in the World!"

My mom used to say that phrase when I was younger.  She'd say it when she was amazed at something.  It would be common for me to hear from her when flowers would bloom, our dog was in the house instead of outside, a new bird came to the bird feeder, etc.  I found myself saying those very words last week Monday.  I started to not feel well Sunday evening, and by Monday at noon, I was extremely sick and in bed.  I laid there in bed and actually said out loud, "What in the world!"  I was amazed at how normal I had felt just a day earlier, but now I was completely miserable.  A couple hours earlier, I was fine, but I was not fine any more. 

In reading about the events of Holy Week, Peter's denial of Jesus made me think he very well could have said, "What in the world!" right when he realized he had denied Jesus three times.  This is amazing since just a few hours earlier, he told Jesus he wouldn't deny him at all.  In fact, he went as far as offering to die for Jesus if needed.  A few hours later, Peter denied even knowing Jesus at all.  "What in the world" were you thinking, Peter?  (Luke 22:54-62, John 21:15-19)

OK, do you ever feel like that as a parent?  Have your kids amazed you with strokes of "genius?"  Have they ever behaved so poorly you couldn't believe it?  There is amazing good and amazing bad.  Maybe you've even said "What in the world" with your own kids.

 

Family Discussion Points!

Parents, share something amazingly good you did as a child.  Something amazingly bad.

Kids - your turn to share something good and bad.

Discuss God's amazing love for us despite our actions.  Use Peter and the Bible references above to give an example of God's love!

Partners in Parenting

Looking for a Sign from God!

I've heard people say before, "I wish God would just give me a sign, so I would know for sure."  You've probably said it or heard it yourself.  I had the opportunity last week to actually watch people look for a sign from God.  I don't know if they realized it or not, but they were definitely searching for one.  It was Thursday about 2:00pm, and I was driving toward school when the sun burst forth from the clouds while it continued to rain.  I saw a lady out on her front porch searching the sky for a rainbow.  I turned left at the next street, and about a quarter mile down, there was a man standing in the middle of his driveway getting soaked by the rain as he searched for the rainbow that the rain and sun must have produced - but where?  I kept driving, but I too was looking for a rainbow.  I don't know about them, but I never saw one.  The point is, we were all looking for a sign from God - a rainbow.  I then thought about how the clouds, grass, trees, wild animals, fish, birds, sunsets, sunrises, water, mountains, and I could continue on, are all signs from God.  They are signs of His power and design for the world in which we live.

So I decided to look at the account of the Flood to reread about God showing Noah the rainbow to promise him that he'd never destroy the earth again with a flood.  Much to my surprise, here's what I found:  "And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come.  I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."  Genesis 9:12, 13

The rainbow is not just for us as humans, but for "every living creature" and the "earth."  As spring and summer get ever closer, hopefully we'll see a rainbow and remember that:

1.  It is God's rainbow.

2.  It is God's covenant with us.

3.  The covenant is for us, every living creature, and the entire earth.

May we all not just look for rainbows, but God's signs all around us that are in His creation, that remind us of Him who made it all.

 

Family Discussion Points!

Try to remember a time and place where you saw a rainbow.  Are you surprised that you remember some of those times?  Rainbows are that special to see!

Have every family member think of at least two things that remind them of God in nature.

Discuss God's creation every day this week so everyone grows in their awareness of God's signs all around us.

Trinity Tweet March 12, 2012

Moments Matter!

I had a chance to go to the movies this past weekend.  One of the themes brought out in the particular movie that Jen and I saw was that moments matter.  The idea was that life is full of moments, and sometimes moments have the opportunity to change things significantly.  One moment can alter all the moments that follow that pivotal moment.  Consider the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, David and Goliath, the Flood, etc.  Those are just a few of the numerous events from the Bible that show how much moments matter.  The more I thought about that whole concept, the more I realized the value of not just the "big moments," but the regular, every day moments.  I came to realize that every moment is significant when the moment is spent with another person.  Relationships matter.  Therefore, moments matter.  The moments parents spend with their children matter.  Even the moments spent disciplining, correcting, training, and teaching are important.  So do the moments on vacation, playing together, and hanging out at home.  Parenting isn't all fun, but the moments matter.  The moments spent now with your kids do change things significantly - for their future.  

 

Family Discussion Points!

Parents - tell a story about your parents.  Kids love hearing about their grandparents.

Talk about pivotal moments in your lives - each one share.

Talk about how you'll make more moments to spend together as a family.

Partners in Parenting

Standing on Holy Ground! - to the players I coached and their parents!

I had the chance to stand on "Holy Ground" this past week.  It isn't quite like when God told Moses to take his sandals off in the book of Exodus, but it was indeed special beyond belief.  "Do not come any closer," God said.  "Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5  Moses found himself suddenly in the midst of something so profound and exceptional that he was to remove his sandals.  It was a moment in God's presence.  So personal that God asked for the removal of even the barrier of sandals.  He wanted Moses to fully touch that holy ground on which he stood.

Well, here's what happened this past weekend:

The 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Team qualified for the State Tournament this year for the first time.  It was a goal of the team from the beginning of the season.  We lost our first game.  Our second game was a completely different experience.  The crowd was so loud and the competition fierce.  I can't put into words the emotional intensity of that game for everyone in the building.  The game ended in a tie after we just barely missed a shot at the buzzer.  Overtime remained exciting, but we ended up losing the game.  An amazing experience, but the game had no comparison to what happened after the game. 

We found an empty locker room.  It was just the team, Assistant Coach Rob Shippy, and me.  We sat in silence with tears flowing down a few faces of these young men.  I found myself at a loss for words.  Our season was over.  For some, their Trinity career was over.  The reality was sinking in, and as it sunk in, it was hitting hard.  I finally began to speak about how proud I was them as a team.  I shared how their goals for the year had been reached.  I reminded them that the pain (especially for the 8th graders) was very real.  I shared some other stuff to help build them up during these difficult moments.  Then I said, "Does anyone have anything they want to share?"  Team members started to talk.  As they did, more of them began to cry.  As a few players said a few words to me, I began to cry.  Words continued to be shared with each other for another 15 minutes or so, and the character of each of these young men was exposed for others to see.  We, as a team, were alone in a locker room, and we were on "holy ground" because the words were so profound and exceptional.  This is rare, and it is special.

Players,  I am thankful for each of you, and I have loved being with you so much over the past few months.  You have grown as players, but you have also grown as young Christian men.  You have done a great thing together, and I want to especially thank you for the moments together in that locker room. 

Parents, I am so proud of your sons for who they are, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to coach them.  I am also very thankful for the opportunity to be in the "holy ground" of that locker room with them. 

Family Discussion Points!

Parents:  When a child lets you see what is going on inside his or her heart, do you consider it to be "holy ground" that is truly special?  When has that happened?

When is the time your family tends to talk?  Do you ever plan for it?

Focus on as much "talk time" as you can as a family this week.  Be careful, you might find yourself on "holy ground."