When my children were young, they only complained of being "bored" a few times. That's because every time they did it, I responded (following the advice of older, wiser friends whose parenting I admired) by simply gazing at them calmly and saying, "Wow, you have a problem. But I know you're smart and creative, and I think you can solve your problem."

Our instinct is to problem-solve for our kids, or to try to entertain them. But using that simple statement helped much more than suggesting things for them to do. It told them I believe in them, that they were capable, creative, and most of all, responsible for themselves.

American poet and satirist Dorothy Parker once said: "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."

The Bible says that the whole earth is full of the glory of God. It teaches us that God is everywhere, he's omnipresent. When we have a healthy sense of curiosity, we notice things. We pay attention and ask questions. We ask, "Where is God in this situation?" ...