Summer Comes

by Kelly Knowlden

Each of you will know in the next week a change of pace in having children around all day. And while this will give you more time with them, what you do with that time will matter most. But what other hope do we have for the Church of Christ to stand as lights in this darkened world than having you invest time and energy into the next generation? So here are a few thoughts for the summer.

First, discipline yourself (and your children) for the purpose of godliness, for godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (I Tim. 4:8) This means that you will set goals for your children’s summer. You will give them tasks to do and do the tasks with them. Whether it is pulling weeds, emptying the dishwasher, or cleaning the bathroom, your working with them will make it be fun and also model for them the perspective of being good stewards of what God has given. You will not allow excuses of “it’s too hot,” or “I’m so hungry” - though they may be fact - to alter what you’ve asked them to do. You will have conversations that have meaning and are formative: the kinds of things that you want to impart to your children before they leave home. That will include instruction in not-so-common manners. Using “please,” “thank-you” and teaching children to not be the center of all conversations is invaluable. Having them write thank you notes is a practical means of having them be thankful. They could write one to their teacher for the great sacrifices they have given this year! Or they could write a real letter to Grandma!

In all this, while you work and play together, read and talk together, you will want the Word of God to be a major factor in all you do. That will help you to accept them for who they are (including all their limitations and personality/character quirks—they probably got them from you!) just as Christ has done for us! It will help you be interested in them and what they are thinking.

Whatever you do, don’t let the summer float by just taking the kids places or letting them play or sit in front of the TV. Set some goals for them and for yourself. Then by Christ’s strength - go for it!