Partners in Parenting

Partners in Parenting

“He’s Not Real!”

On Thursday last week, we had the 6^th – 8^th Graders practicing for our “Night at the Museum – Trinity Style” by presenting their characters to the younger grades.  If you aren’t aware of this event, here is a quick explanation:  The 6^th – 8^th Graders had to research a person from history and be ready to get into “character” with proper dress, accent, props, information, business cards, etc. 

I took half of the first graders with me to meet these famous people from history.  As we were talking to Walt Disney, many of the children stared in amazement as they heard the story about creating Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and the theme parks. 

I commented to the first graders, “Isn’t that cool that he is the one who started all the Disney stuff we have today.” 

A first grade girl asked me, “Did he draw all the princesses too.” 

I replied, “Ask him!  He’s is Walt Disney!”  She asked him about the princesses. 

As she did, another first grade girl reached up, grabbed my arm to get me to lean down to her, and sort of whispered to me as though keeping a secret, “You know that he’s not really Walt Disney, don’t you?”

I whispered back, “Yes, I know.”  I was laughing almost uncontrollably inside.  This young lady had set me straight here so I wouldn’t be fooled by this imposter.

Parents, we MUST do the same for our children.  We need to help them see the “real deal” as well as the fake, the phony, the pretender.  We need to help them see Jesus as well as Satan in the world.  Many times we don’t even identify Satan at work in the world, but it would be rather easy to do.  There is sin everywhere.  There are lies about how to look that are too numerous to count or keep up with – but we try.  Satan and the world say you have to be good to find God’s favor, but Jesus says you simply need to believe in Him to have God’s favor.  They are vastly different, but kind of appear the same.  Don’t be fooled. 

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”  Matthew 7:15

Family Discussion Points!

Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) according to Jesus.  What are some of Satan’s lies that our society has “bought into?”  In other words - What does society say is important vs. what Jesus says is important?

Why does Satan keep the danger of his influence pretty unrecognizable to us (like a sheep)?  (He always wants to draw us away from Jesus)

Where do you, as a family, find strength for resisting Satan and drawing closer to God?  (Worship, daily reading of His Word, Prayer, other)  Discuss!

Partners in Parenting

“Who is the Best?”

I write this “edition” of Partners in Parenting after spending the past weekend at the Michigan State Lutheran School Basketball Tournament.  The brackets had teams seeded based upon who was the favorite to win.  All the players, coaches, fans, etc. were looking forward to the culminating game of the weekend – the Championship Game!  Who is the best team in the state?  Who is the best player in the state?  Who will emerge on top out of all the teams there?  Each team wanted to be the best, but only one team remained unbeaten at the end of the weekend.  As I drove home with my family, everyone slept while I thought about people’s desire to be the best.  That desire brings out many good qualities – determination, teamwork, perseverance, composure, intensity, etc.  However, all those good qualities being displayed by the athletes don’t guarantee a victory. 

As a parent, you’ll probably have your kids in a competition of some kind.  This will bring out many great qualities in your child.  It will teach them many excellent things.  In the process, there is this great thing called Sportsmanship.  Sportsmanship is how you respect and care about others during a sporting competition.  It is basically being a Christian throughout the battle of competition.  God’s Word reminds us to keep the immediate competitions of life in perspective.  “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:4 

Who is the Best?  Maybe it is actually the person who can look at the interest of others.  That is what Jesus did for us on the cross, and that is what He calls us to do as servants in the world.

Family Discussion Points!

Share something that each family member is the best at in their family (best cook, reader, organizer, persuader, athlete, musician, etc….)

How is it a great thing to consider others as well as yourself?  Talk about it a bit.

Talk a little bit about keeping earthly competition in perspective.  Also talk about our greatest victory already being won for us by Christ – the victory over sin, death, and Satan. 

Partners in Parenting

“Keeping the Flame going!”

Yesterday, Jen and the kids went to early church and confirmation class before driving up to her sister’s house for haircuts.  I went to Bible study and late church before heading home to spend an afternoon at home – just me and Zeke (chocolate lab) to do as we wished.  I made myself a list of things to get done:  laundry, new pads on the kitchen chairs, organize all my hunting stuff from last fall, organize fishing stuff for the coming season, marinade chicken for supper, sharpen my pocket knife, etc.  I did these things at a relaxed pace while watching the Daytona 500 with the TV volume turned way up.  I also started a fire in the fireplace.  It has been a long time since I had six hours free to do whatever I wanted.  Each task got completed and checked off the list, but one task never even made it onto the list.  It was a task that lasted longer than any other – in fact it lasted into the late evening.  The task of keeping the fire going in the fireplace needed regular attention.  A few times, I looked up from my work to find red coals without a flame.  I had to stir the coals, add wood, and blow on the coals – ah, a beautiful fire emerged again.

Later, when Jen got back home, she was talking to a friend on the phone.  She reminded her friend of a favorite Bible passage.  Here it is:  “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:6,7.  As Jen shared the verse with her friend, I was reminded of how, like tending the fire in the fireplace, we need to be “tending” our faith on a regular basis so we don’t lose it.  If I had ignored the fire, it would have extinguished.  If I ignore my gift of God (faith), it can be something I extinguish as I live life.  Notice, I would extinguish it, not God.  Tending to a fire and tending to our faith – something we need to be vigilant about as God’s people!!

Family Discussion Points!

Who builds fires in your family in the fireplace?  Camping?  Etc.

If you had 6 hours to do whatever you wanted, what would it be?  Each family member share!

How do you “tend” your gift of God (faith) on a regular basis?  Is there something to work on in your life as you consider this?

Partners in Parenting

“Playing Favorites!”

I have another great story from the boys’ bathroom.  As a principal, great boys’ bathroom stories are pretty regular, and last week, I got a little glimpse into why I don’t have any great girls’ bathroom stories.  Here it goes:

I was using the boys’ bathroom last week when a 2^nd grade boy walked in, and he quickly pumped his fist with a big, “YES!!”  I began to chuckle inside, but something told me to just wait for what he’d say next.  He didn’t disappoint me.

“This is my favorite urinal. I like this one the best.  Did you know that?”

I replied, “No, I didn’t know that.  I don’t have a favorite urinal.”

He quipped right back, “You don’t?  You should.  All of us boys have a favorite one.”

I didn’t respond because I was laughing too hard inside.

He goes on, “The boys all have a favorite one, but I don’t think the girls have a favorite.  They never talk about it.  Mr. Petzold, I wonder why they don’t.  Hmm, maybe they just don’t tell us.”

By now, he’s washing his hands, and all I can wonder is if he’s using his favorite sink too!!  Anyway, I just responded, “I just use whatever one I want.”

He dries his hands and said, “Not me. I wait for my favorite.”  Then he skips out the door.  I stood there drying my hands and laughing and thinking and wondering and realizing – no wonder I don’t have a single great girls’ bathroom story – I don’t believe girls think like that! 

I’m a boy, so I wouldn’t know for sure!

Parents, we all might have a favorite color, food, snack, vacation spot, car, etc., but we love all of our kids.  Kids are all different, and some need more help to succeed.  Some need more correction.  Some need more guidance.  Some eat more food.  Basically, some are easier, and some are more difficult.  Like boys and girls are different, no two children are the same.  Be careful about having a favorite child.  God doesn’t do that.  Paul is writing to the church in Rome about how all believers have the same value to God when he writes:  “For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:1.1   No favorites!  No matter how different we all are.

Family Discussion Points!

Talk about favorites of all kinds – dessert, TV show, food, game, etc.

Talk about family members differences.

Talk about how God loves us all the same despite our differences.  That’s called unconditional love!

Partners in Parenting

“The Ability to Speak the Truth!”

This past week, I had a very cool conversation with a young man I had just met. He told me that through a personal finance class, he had figured out that “you have to make a lot of money in order to ever be able to save any money.”  That jumped out at my ears since I believe that is one of the lies many of our youth believe.  I asked him if he could save $10 in a bank account from his first paycheck if his paycheck was $100.  He said he probably could do that.  So I told him to decide now to do exactly that – save 10% of whatever his paycheck is for the rest of his life.  I told him he would grow into having enough money if he always “pays himself” with 10% savings every pay day.  He was quietly thinking for a few moments before he said, “Yeah, that would probably work.”  I pray God gives me a chance to talk to him some more about this or other things.  This conversation reminded me of how often I have to point out “lies of the culture” to my own children.  All parents have to do that.  God had to point out Moses’ excuses of an inability to speak well as lies when God asked him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  [God said] “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  Moses believed the lie that he couldn’t speak well and was of no use to God.  God spoke the truth to Moses that he was the perfect spokesman for God in Egypt.  Parents, you are the same spokesman for truth to your kids!

Family Discussion Points!

Play a game of True or False as a family.  Parents, make up some lies to see how the kids respond.

Where can absolute truth be found?  It is only in the Bible, but what about my own truth???  Isn’t that also true?

Talk about how each family member can save some money with whatever they earn.  Don’t forget about CEF Stamps if you aren’t already participating.  Talk to me if you want to learn more.

Partners in Parenting

“Take Your Vitamins!”

One of the morning jobs I have in my house is to get the vitamins out for the kids.  I set them on the counter so they can take them when they eat breakfast.  Now, I’ll admit that the one chewable vitamin tastes what I imagine chewing on a piece of sidewalk chalk would be like.  My kids don’t like that vitamin.  My wife won’t take it.  I only eat it because it is good for me, and I want the kids to eat theirs.  More days than not, it is almost bedtime, and those nasty tasting vitamins, all three of them, are still on the counter providing their nutrients for healthy living to absolutely nobody.  It kind of reminds me of sometimes how kids won’t eat healthy foods like broccoli because it doesn’t taste good.  I’m sure you have foods and vitamins your kids avoid too.  For them, avoidance of an unpleasant taste in their mouth is more of a goal than healthy living.  As a Christian parent, I have to remember that kids will avoid things they don’t like.  Where did they learn to do that?  Hmmm.

I guess I avoid things I don’t like most of the time too – no olives or coconut for me, please!  I avoid admitting my sinfulness.  I avoid taking time to read my Bible daily.  I avoid daily exercise.  I avoid driving the speed limit 100% of the time.  I avoid using good manners when I’m upset or frustrated.  I avoid all kinds of things that are good for me because it is unpleasant in the short term. 

As I think about it, I am reminded of how God’s laws and commandments leave a “bad taste in my mouth.”  The law is good for me, but I don’t want to live by it all the time. I want to do my own thing.  Thankfully, God’s grace is there to grant forgiveness when I don’t want to live under His good law.  His grace covers me, and you, and our kids!

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”  Romans 6:14

 

Family Discussion Points!

What are some things people in your family avoids eating?

What are some things your family avoids doing that are ultimately good for you?

Simply:  Law = you are sinful, but God’s grace = you are completely forgiven.  How should the law impact your life?  How should God’s grace?

Partners in Parenting

“Silent in the Snow!”

Over the Christmas break, my two boys and the neighbor boy built a huge igloo by our driveway.  Before they made it into an awesome igloo, I went out and hollowed out a bunch of it.  I crawled inside and instantly, everything went silent.  It was amazing that I couldn’t hear anything going on outside of that igloo any longer.  I was warm.  I couldn’t feel the wind.  I heard a really interesting sound – silence!  I closed my eyes, and I was interested to find my mind immediately focused on God.  It was odd that I suddenly thought of God and his gifts of snow, love, family, and on and on it went.  I found myself inside a big pile of snow enjoying absolute silence while talking to God like He was in there with me.  The realization came to me that God was with me the whole time I was outside the igloo as well as now inside it.  The difference was that silence brought Him to the forefront of my mind.  Silence, what a way to find time with God!  God even says:  “Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10

Family Discussion Points!

Where can/do you find the most silence in your house?  When does that happen?

Have every family member lay on the floor in silence for 2 minutes.  Talk about what you thought of during that time after it is done.

Talk about when silence is a good thing.  When it is a bad thing!