Although the Valentine’s candies have been in the stores for several weeks now, February is a great time to pick up some conversation hearts and thing about how they might start a conversation with our children. In days of increased technology use and reliance, it often seems that when we look over at our kids, they have their noses in their phones. Conversely, when they look at us, they probably see the same thing. Regardless of who has a higher screen time, our children need to know that they can and should be having some deep conversations with us. If we reach into our grab bag of conversation hearts for 2021, we might find sayings such as:
MASK UP! It’s been nearly a year since we began dealing with COVID-19 and its effects. Undoubtedly your family holds an opinion about the best ways to deal with the virus and its spread. As we think about why we wear masks and how we demonstrate Christian love to our neighbors, sometimes it makes us feel uncomfortable, but it always gives us an opportunity to ask our children, “what do you think about all of this?” Giving them an opportunity to express concerns, frustrations, or just to ask questions is a great way to show them that as their parent you’re there for them and that you enjoy discussing the big ideas with them. It’s also a good opportunity to talk about how our ideas are not always the same as those of others we meet. We can even share with our kids that sometimes, we change our minds over time as we consider additional information. Here, we can set a powerful example of Christ’s love in our families by expressing disagreement without being disagreeable.
LET’S ZOOM If there is one thing that this last year has taught us, it’s that God has given us many gifts that enable us to continue His work even when we have not been able to be all together. As Christian parents, this is a good reminder that like our Heavenly Father has poured into us, we pour into our kids, and even when we can’t be together, we can trust that they have tools to work through a variety of situations. Having important conversations with our kids also means preparing them for important conversations when we’re not around. “What would you do if your friends wanted to do x, y, or z?” The x, y, or z amps up as our kids age, and we should still be having those conversations with our teens. Children that are prepared ahead of time have a better chance
of making good decisions when put to the test. And although our prayer as parents is that our kids would not need such skills, it’s inevitable that they will be tested at some point.
JESUS LOVES YOU! As we celebrate Black History Month, we are reminded about the powerful opportunity we have as Christ’s dearly loved children to ensure that our children know the important contributions people of color and the impact these contributions have had on our world. We have a powerful opportunity as Christian parents to have deep conversations with our children about racism and the sting of pain it brings to so many. We can share our own failings as people and encourage continued growth in our children as they see the world with Christ-like wonder and apply His love and righteous perspective to situations that may require them to stand up and use their voices to put an end to racist attitudes and behaviors. Jesus loves you does not have qualifications. He loves YOU! His deep desire is that everyone that hears these words would know they are for them. Conversations such as these start in our homes and are made real for others as we share them not only with our words, but with our actions. May God guide and bless you as you undertake these important conversations.
No matter what the situation, God’s heart for conversation with His children is overflowing! Even in a year with masks, zoom meetings, and lots of hand sanitizer, we know that God is listening to the prayers of His people. Continue to pray for Christian parents and the impact they can and do have on their homes, communities, and the world. Join the conversation today!
Blessings,
Corey Brandenburger, Principal
