Back to School Encouragement
Author: Melinda Leonetti
August 01, 2023
Towards the end of every summer, I start getting
excited about beginning a new school year. I enjoy settling back into a routine and spending more one-on-one time
with my boys. I look forward to the
cooler weather and being able to open the windows in the schoolroom again. But I have to confess that some reoccurring
fears also start creeping up in my mind. I begin thinking about how I’m going to have the energy to keep
homeschooling, whether or not I will somehow ruin my kids, and if I’m doing
enough to teach them about the Lord. Back when my kids went to Christian school, I also used to think about the
money we were going to spend on tuition, clothes, and supplies, how we would
handle problems that happened at school, what the kids in their classes were
going to be like, and how we would get through the never-ending homework. And even though I haven’t been a
public-school mom, I went to public school and a long time ago, I was even a
public-school teacher. So, I understand
the concerns there as well. What will
their teachers be like? Will they fit
in? Will they make any Christian
friends? Will this pull them from the Lord?
None of these concerns are exclusive and I’m sure
I’m not alone in my feelings. No matter
where your children go to school, you know the endless thoughts that can go
through your mind concerning their well-being. Getting our kids ready for a new school year
can be both exciting and nerve wracking for parents. And for most Christian parents, our biggest
concern for our children is how to protect them from the world and keep pointing
them to Christ during these susceptible and impressionable years.
Children minds are like sponges. They soak up everything around them, learn
quickly, and repeat what they hear. In
order to capture their hearts at a young age, we start training our children
early. We teach them Bible verses, pray
with them before bed, and take them to church. We play Sunday School songs on repeat, organize play groups with
Christian friends, and pray over them continually. It’s probably fair to say that we keep our young
children in a well-protected Christian bubble. At some point though our bubble-wrapped children have to venture out
into the real world. As we take them
with us shopping, go to the playground, and even turn on cartoons, it becomes apparent
that opportunities to see and experience sin are everywhere.
Once our children start school, the opportunities grow. Curriculum content, classmates, internet
access, field trips, birthday parties, organized sports, after school
activities, and homeschool groups are all influential in the lives of our
children. Their impressionable minds are
exposed to thousands of new ideas as they begin to independently interact with the
world. And because our kids are human,
they ponder and entertain these new ideas.
So, what do we do? First, just because we can’t protect our children from everything
doesn’t mean all things should be permissible. God’s Word gives us a lot of insight into what
honors and dishonors Him. Yes, there are a lot of moral gray areas, but our
children need to understand that if it goes against God’s Word, they must not
do it. In a world of tolerance, we need
to be faithful to say when something is sin and there is nothing wrong with
limiting your child’s exposure to sin. Do
you remember the song, “Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See?” Have you taught your children to be careful
what their eyes see? Do they see sin the
way God sees it? Are they able to
discern if something is sinful or are you allowing them to compromise? If you know what your child is interested in
doing, seeing, or participating in doesn’t honor Christ, do you tell them “No”
and protect them from it? Or do you back
down from that responsibility because it is easier to give in? If so, I’m encouraging you to get back into the
battle and find the strength to say, “No”. We are living in a culture where parents, even Christian parents, are
losing their authority to strong-willed children. Be willing to say “No, I don’t think that
honors Christ.” “No, I don’t think that
movie would put pure thoughts in your mind.” Or “No, I don’t think those are kids you should be hanging out with.” If you
aren’t sure if something is good for your child to see or do, let Philippians
4:8 be your guide. Paul says, “Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent
or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Our children (even older children) need us to say “No” for them. They
need to know that protecting them from exposure to sin is a safeguard for them
spiritually. Satan is actively working to
cause doubt and uncertainty in their hearts, and they don’t have the wisdom or
spiritual maturity to know what is best for them, but we do!
Second, our children need to know that Jesus is the
answer to every uncertainty, every fear, and every temptation they will face. Going back to school can be frightening for a
lot of children. They may struggle with
learning, peer pressure, or making friends. We need to help our children turn to Jesus when they are struggling and
the best way for them to learn this is to see it in us. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul tells the
Corinthian believers to “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Positive or negative, our children are
going to imitate what they see. Have you
heard the quote, “If we don’t teach our children to follow Christ, the world
will teach them not to”? If you turn to
worldly comfort when you are stressed or overwhelmed, so will your children. Instead, when you are facing a trial, include
your children in your prayers for strength and peace. And then share with them how God worked and
answered your prayers. And when your
children are facing their own problems, instead of solving it for them, read
Bible verses together and pray with them. Give them the tools they need to
point them to Christ.
These school years are difficult regardless of how
our children are educated. They are
facing temptations, deceptions, and flat-out lies from Satan. They are being pulled by the world while they
are in our homes and out of our homes. Our
children need us to protect them, and they need us to continually point them to
Christ. Parenting isn’t easy. It takes a lot of intentional work. As our children head back to school this
year, let’s make this spiritual investment together!
Verses to encourage your children this school year:
1 Corinthians 10:31
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
God.”
Philippians 4:13 “I
can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Colossians 3:2 “Set
your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Psalm 101:3 “I will
set no wicked thing before my eyes.”
Galatians 6:9 “And
let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do
not give up.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Proverbs 4:23 “Above
all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Romans 12:9 “Love
must be sincere. Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good.”
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