Pencils...Notebooks...Folders...Backpacks...New Clothes...New Shoes...
Schedules...Buses...Carpools...
Are you ready for your kids to go back to school?
At the end of each summer, parents spend numerous hours at department stores and malls looking for all the things their children need to get ready for school. More hours are spent getting hair cuts, going to the dentist and the doctor, doing all the things that need to be done before kids begin spending their days in classes. Then, they continue to help their kids get ready to return to the school routine by sending them to bed earlier and getting them up with an alarm in the morning.
As parents, we put a lot of time and energy into make sure our kids have what they need and are ready for school. But in the hustle and bustle of preparation, do we consider their spiritual needs? Students need the pencils, notebooks, and other stuff to do their best in school, but they also need a strong relationship with God to help them succeed in their studies and any extra-curricular activities in which they participate.
A strong relationship with God helps kids develop good relationships with friends and teachers. Understanding that God loves them and that they can draw strength from God helps them to face difficult situations, such as disagreements with parents, teachers, and friends; problems understanding homework; days that are packed with classes, studies, and other activities; and anything else that might challenge them. Knowing that God showers them with blessings, they can better appreciate and celebrate their joys and successes.
So how do we help our kids get spiritually prepared for school? Consider doing the following activities with your kids:
¨ Pray…Pray…Pray… Help your kids understand that prayer is simply talking to God and that we can talk to God anytime, anywhere. God is always with us and ready to listen to what we have to say.
¨ Pray the Our Father often. The words of the prayer that Jesus taught us remind us that God is with us always, watching over us, showering us with the blessings of what we need, and giving us the strength and courage to avoid temptation and sin.
¨ Read the Bible every day. Consider beginning each day with breakfast and a verse from the Bible. There are many places to find the readings of the day, including www.usccb.org. Or just open up the Bible and read the first passage that your eyes focus on or pray a verse of a Psalm.
¨ Pray the Rosary. As a daughter, wife, and mother, Mary has experienced all facets of family life. As Jesus’ mother, she understands the joys and sorrows of parenting. She, too, helped Jesus learn and sent him to school to grow in knowledge of the world and his Jewish faith. We can ask Mary, our Mother, to watch over our children. We can teach our children to ask Mary to pray for them in all circumstances.
¨ Share stories of your own faith. Tell your kids about the times when God saw you through difficult situations. Share with your kids stories about God’s blessings in your life.
