Friday-itis
Theme of the Week: Really Listen to Your Children
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! (Proverbs 23:15). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 23:22-26
Eighth grade started well for Kevin, elected class president. Then he began staying home on Fridays, claiming illness. After he missed three in a row, I said, "Help me understand why you're unwell only on Fridays."
Kevin, a master cartoonist, came clean. "Dad, PE class is on Fridays. I hate PE. I'm no jock and the other guys tease me."
"I bet it gets embarrassing," I replied.
"You don't know the half of it, Dad!" Kevin said, relieved.
"But some of the athletic kids in PE are also in your art classes," I pressed on. "I'll bet they can't draw a stick but still give it their best shot."
"Well, yeah, there are two or three guys," Kevin admitted, "but I don't pick on them because they can't draw."
"There's no physical reason you can't do PE," I said, "and since you're class president, they can't all be teasing you. Go back and give it your best shot."
"I'll try," Kevin relented, "but I won't like it."
I put my arm around his shoulders. "Life is full of things that we don't like. Just take your licks and try."
Next weekend I asked Kevin how PE class went. "Okay, Dad," he said; "no big deal."
—Kevin Leman in Bringing Up Kids Without Tearing Them Down
My Response: To challenge without condemning, I need to …
Thought to Apply: Of all gifts a parent can give a child, the gift of learning to make good choices is the most valuable and long-lasting. —Pat Holt & Grace Ketterman
Adapted from Bringing Up Kids Without Tearing Them Down (Nelson, 1995) by permission.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Lord, help me learn ways to interact with my children that go beyond surface conformity to heart motivation.
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