It’s almost ‘back to school’ time for many. The smell of crayons and new paper is sweet to me. I loved getting new school supplies each fall. The thought of a new school year, the unknown of a new teacher, and new adventures with old friends and the possible new ones was exciting. There was something special about going back to school, and to this day I’m tempted to buy new colors, pens, paper, and notebooks at the back to school sales. As summer comes to a close, I’d like to share my top five tips for this school season.
First – Begin with the end in mind. To have a good day children and adults need to be well-rested. Start now to get in a good bedtime routine that will give you the rest you need to be ready for each new day. Studies show that school age children need nine to twelve hours of sleep each night. Teens need eight to ten hours of sleep.
Second – Decide to wake up thankful and grateful. Each day and literally each moment of each day we pick our moods and attitudes, so make them good ones. My husband and I went on a bus tour of Israel where the tour guide began every day as the bus pulled away from the hotel leading us in the song, “This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made.” Try it, and thank God for another day of opportunity to live, love, and learn. We also prayed for our journey and safety each day.
Third – Minimize distractions and things that could delay or derail your day by being prepared. Choose and set out your clothes the night before, and collect and place books, backpacks, and other items you’ll need in a convenient place to pick them up to go to the bus or the car is one way.
Fourth – Fuel your body with foods that feed your brain as well as your body. Protein rich foods help children and adults make it through until lunch time. If you can prepare breakfast portions ahead of time to reheat in the mornings that can save time, too. With the many technology options available now, it is easy to fuel our souls too with audio Scripture readings from the Bible during breakfast or our commute.
Fifth – Connect with positive and constructive conversations, especially in the mornings. These can set the tone of the day for a child. Tell your children and spouse “I love you,” each morning. When I’m with my grandchildren now, I add “…and God loves you, too!” Pray with and for your family talking to God about every concern while praising Him and asking for His guidance and blessings. Pray silently and pray out loud teaching your children that God cares for us so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to redeem us. God is listening, loves us, and still answers prayers.
Lastly, here’s a little lagniappe from a Louisiana girl. When everyone returns home for the day, ask each person about their day. Turn off all the phones, televisions, gadgets, and social media devices during dinner/supper. Find out from each member of your family what was good, interesting, surprising, challenging, or even discouraging or less than pleasant about their day. Ask how they feel or felt about various situations, friends, ideas, and things. Talk about how they can learn, grow, cope, and hope from the situations they go through so that they will develop perseverance and resilience when life gets tough – and it will.
One day our children will be on their own, and the mentorship of caring and Christian parents is huge. One of my children told me after finishing college how meaningful our dinner conversations were when we talked about our days during supper time. During college this particular child learned that not all families have that bond of love, interest, and concern. There are many parents that didn’t take the time to converse, connect, or even care to ask how their children were doing and felt. Some parents had no idea what their children were even doing or interested in. Many of these children suffered difficulties and depression as young adults from this neglect of their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Parents are THE God-planned, best-designed, and most important people in the lives of their children to help train and mentor them into adulthood. With God’s help, His Word, prayer, and perseverance, parents can have successful, good and godly families. It takes focus and intentional parenting with purpose.
As our families prepare to go back to school, I hope these tips are useful and helpful. May God bless and guide you and your family in His service.
Written by – Robin House
Tag: child
Supreme Court Arguments For and Against the Right to Life
Arguments at the Supreme Court for abortion say that 1 in 4 women in America have had an abortion. It is a big issue in our society. The argument that unplanned pregnancies should not have to be continued is one of the primary arguments for the right to abort a child and is being made.
Pregnancy is in most cases a result of a voluntary choice to engage in behavior that brings an egg and sperm together. Women do have the right (morally or not in our nation) to engage in an activity that would bring their egg in contact with a man’s sperm. But once the egg is fertilized by the sperm, a new — and completely separate from the mom — individual life with its own unique DNA begins. At that point of conception, the child exists, and he or she should, in my opinion, be afforded the right to live as the Constitution promises to all of us the right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
The argument for a woman’s right to choice to end the life of her child must acknowledge that the woman’s choice ends when it infringes on the rights of life and existence of another separate individual. The conceived child is such an individual
Most often in the cases of abortion, women choose to participate in behavior that could render them with a child. To be blunt, many women want to have sexual relations without the consequences of what naturally occurs with the behavior. Some women seem to want to do the things that can result in a pregnancy without dealing with the consequence or responsibility to the other separate unique individual who has been formed by the woman and man.
The baby in the womb is treated by many as having no standing or rights as an individual. Though a child can not form itself and does not ask to be conceived, he or she is a person and entitled to the right to life, the right to choice over their bodies, and the right to live as they choose – just like the mother.
Our rights end at the point when they infringe on someone else’s rights. We can not harm or cause the death of another without consequences in the law. Why is there a difference in protections and rights for an unborn child – a child who is unable to speak up for themselves? We know that just because someone is bigger, stronger, or can exercise dominance over another person that does not mean that they should exert their will over another or that it is right to do so.
The science is clear that what is conceived in a woman’s womb is a living human being. More and more we have learned and understand the intricacy and individuality of every single person from the time they are conceived. The Bible says we are knit together by God in the womb and that He knows us and has plans for us before we are born.
I’m praying that our nation will turn back to following God. I’m praying that those with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies will choose to let the life of their children continue. I’m praying that those who do not want to keep or raise the children they conceive will give them through adoption to those who do want children and will care for and love them to help them grow.
We are all made in the image of the almighty God. I hope more will gently and lovingly discuss this topic with their children, friends, and families and teach the truth and the value of life — of every single life.
I hope you will pray with me and think on these things…
My Choice
Why is the argument ‘my body; my right’ acceptable/allowed for one ‘choice'(to end the life of an unborn child) and not acceptable/allowable for those who may select another choice – to choose not to accept a non FDA approved, emergency use authorization, experimental drug into their body?
Is this not their right and choice, or are we now coming under totalitarian rule? I’m not knocking anyone’s position. I’m not for or against anyone’s decision about taking or not taking the new drugs to prevent a virus.
But – I do believe we should each have the right to decide for ourselves without governmental coercion — Especially considering that 99.95 % of those who get the virus survive with no or very few residual issues.
Let’s open our eyes my fellow citizens and speak up for what is self-evident and what we have been endowed with by our Creator that is confirmed in our Constitution.
RRHouse ©️ 7/13/21