According to “sources” everyone who wants to get the vaccine can in the next couple of months. As life speeds toward “normal”, it is time for some reflection. What did your family learn from COVID? What did you start doing or stop doing that you want to continue in the post COVID world? While you are reflecting, here are this week’s social media challenges.
Monday: Do your kids think about God when they see an amazing scene in nature? Do they think of the story of Noah when they see a rainbow? Part of Christian parenting is using common sights and tying them to God in their minds. Then, for the rest of their lives, they will think of God when they see those things. It requires you commenting on them as much as possible beginning when they are very tiny. Those God points you input will remind them of God even if you are not there to do it.
Tuesday: Someone gave me this bag of freebies yesterday. Aren’t freebies exciting?! I was so grateful to the person who handed me the bag of free stuff. Teaching your kids to be excited/grateful for all of the “freebies” God has blessed them with will point them to God and lessen their sense of entitlement.
Wednesday: This is Temple Grandin, possibly the most famous person with autism in the world. She has changed entire industries and continues to touch the lives of people all over the world. How? Because her mother taught her she was lovable and that she could do anything God had planned for her. She taught her to be humble and ask for and learn from feedback. At a time when most kids like her were shut away in institutions for life, her mother taught her how to not only exist, but thrive in the world and serve others in the process. I can’t imagine how hard it was for her mother, but because she persevered Temple has changed the world. (And Temple talks about God in at least some of her secular speeches, too. )
Thursday: Shepherds in Bible times knew everything about their sheep because they spent a lot of time with them. Today’s “shepherds” have to paint colors on the sheep to remember who needs what because they don’t spend enough time with them. Shepherds are like parents in many ways. So which kind of parent are you? How well do you really know your kids?
Friday: Churches around this country had their roofs removed by a king who didn’t agree with their beliefs. The people gave in, changed their beliefs and never rebuilt the churches. Your kids may never experience government oppression for their religious beliefs, but they will be teased and perhaps pushed to the social fringes for them. Is their faith strong enough to withstand teasing? Financial pressure? Jail? Death? Prepare your kids’ faith for the worst of challenges, then watch them soar when times are relatively calm, too.