teach your children well
As has become our annual ritual, yesterday once more was the first day of school... the day I bundle up my boys and watch them march off on that big yellow bus. Actually, my youngest guy’s bus truly isn’t all that big — but he feels like it’s huge; sometimes feelings make all the difference in the world.
I was thinking about sending them off, what they will learn this year, how they will grow. I was thinking of the friends they would make that would last throughout the years, just like those dear to me who have been close for seemingly forever. I was thinking of who would teach them... and then I realized... we are their primary teachers...
While teachers make a vital contribution to the maturing of our children, it is we — their families — who are responsible for growing up our kids...
It is we...
... who must teach them that Facebook rants and Twitter tweets will never usurp the goodness and benefit of authentic conversation.
It is we...
... who must teach them that authentic conversation is a privilege and opportunity for wisdom and growth.
It is we...
... who must teach them that intentional attempts to divide us — based on income, race, demographics, and even NFL sports teams — are grounded in foolishness and self-focus.
It is we...
... who must teach that self-focus is foolish.
It is we...
... who must teach that pride and humility do not have to cancel out one another; we can be proud of our accomplishments without falling prey to thinking we are bigger or greater than we truly are.
It is we...
... who must teach our children that no political party is ordained by God.
It is we...
... who must teach our children about God.
It is we...
... who must teach our children to be responsible with their gifts, abilities, and finances.
It is we...
... who must teach our children to be generous with their gifts, finances, and commitment to service.
It is we...
... who must teach our children how to talk — how to build others up instead of allowing cursing and praise to attempt to come out of the same mouth.
It is we...
... who must model what a loving, self-sacrificing family looks like.
It is we...
... who must practice what we preach — perhaps the greatest teacher — in responsibility, accountability, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
It is we.
No education — regardless of school format — public school, parochial school, homeschool, or some kind of vouchers — is more important than “we.”
We... must teach them well.
Respectfully,
AR