Michelle Suarez

I don’t make resolutions……I break them the very next day so I’ve just quit making them.  I do however, set goals for the year which may be the same thing, just packaged in a different way.  Regardless of what you do, most of us think of the new year as a new start.  It’s a great time to begin something new, or quit something we’ve been struggling with.

If you’re looking for a way to really change your life, let me encourage you to do one thing:  Invest in the life of a child.

I’m not even going to consider the ways this investment can change the life of the next generation, I just want to talk about you.  Honestly, we’re all a little selfish at heart, so let me tell you how this can benefit you.  But first a warning – if you’re not interested in changing your life, just stop reading now.

Here’s what’s in it for you:

You will learn more about the Bible than you ever knew.

And that’s true regardless of how much you know now.  I’ve seen gray-haired long-time deacons stumped by questions from a middle school boy.  I’ve seen seminary trained preachers have to really think about a question presented to them by a first grader.  If you’re looking to learn more about the Bible – investing in a child or teenager is the fastest way to learn!!

Your faith in humanity will be restored.

Social media has caused us to say things like that rather flippantly these days, but the truth is, many of us only see the negative side of younger generations.  We hear reports of their need for “safe spaces” or their protests when things don’t go the way they expected, and we write them off as the “soft generation” …… a group of kids who needs to quit whining and grow up a little.  But when you begin to invest in the members of that generation, you get a chance to see past the news reports and see into the heart of kids who are looking for their place in society ….. people who are looking for a way to impact the world around them.  And that glimpse into the heart of people will give you hope for the future in a way the news media never will.

Your own faith will grow like never before.

Understand first, that you’ll never really be prepared for any type of ministry service. You will never wake up and realize that you know everything needed to begin investing in the lives of people.  God doesn’t work that way!  He does, however, tend to grow us and provide for us along the way.  When you realize that you don’t know all the answers, it causes you to lean on the One who does.  When kids are asking tough questions, because they will, it causes you to move past the easy, “church” answers and really dive into what God says about the issues.  Quite frankly, there are few other things you can do that will grow your faith as quickly and as deeply as working with kids and students.  If you’re not willing to grow and learn – those kids will eat you alive!

Ministry to the next generation is not for the weak at heart.  It’s not for people who are satisfied with the status quo.  You’re not going to come in to a ministry environment and change lives – until your life is changed even more.

Is it an easy job?  No way!  Is it the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do?  Highly probable!  And I would recommend and encourage it to everyone!

Confetti, hats, crazy glasses, and balls dropping. That’s what many of us picture when we think of the new year. But the reality is, for those of us with kids, the new year begins when school starts.

August (or September, depending on where you live) means new crayons, pencils, and backpacks. It means new classes, new friends, and new schedules. Gone are the lazy days of summer when you didn’t have to enforce bed times, kids sometimes didn’t take a bath before bed, and dinner happened at odd times. Soon our calendar will fill up with sports practices, birthday parties, PTO meetings, and other school events.

As your kids start back to school, here’s a few things to keep in mind.

1. Kids really do thrive with a set schedule. They need the consistency that a set bedtime provides. Their behavior improves when they know what the expectations are and what’s coming next. For some of us, this comes naturally. To you, I would encourage you to allow room for some spontaneity in the schedule. Every once in a while you may need to throw the rules out the window to create memories.  For others, schedules seem like a burden. For you, routine may be more important than schedule. Setting daily routines such as bath time, then story time, followed by bed time help kids to know what’s happening next without burdening anyone with the time spent doing each activity.
2. Kids need down time. We’re so concerned that our kids get every opportunity to succeed and experience all that life has to offer, that we schedule every minute of their day. From school to after-school activities, to sports practice, to play dates – our kids are busier than they’ve ever been before. They need to decompress and participate in un-structured play time. Ideally, they would have some time each day just to play…….not to practice, not to be coached, not to participate in a pre-determined activity, just to play. I know that we don’t live in ideal worlds, so at the very least, plan some time once or twice a week to allow your child to just play.
3. Perfection doesn’t exist. A quick look through Instagram or Facebook may show you pictures of perfect kids and perfect parents captured at the perfect moment. But remember that these moments are the highlights, not the norm. If those parents were completely honest, they might tell you about the temper tantrum that happened right before that picture was snapped. They might tell you about the argument they had on the way home from that picture perfect outing. Social media gives a false impression of other families and can make us feel like we’re failing. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else! God put your family together for a very specific reason. So next time you see that perfect family picture, think about what you’re not seeing outside of the frame.
4. Kids need you. Between teachers at school and church, and coaches at practice, there are lots of adults pouring into your child’s life. And sometimes it can feel like you’re not as important as they are. But none of those adults can give your child what you can. Make sure you’re not just coordinating their life, but are investing in it. Teachers, coaches, and music teachers will all come and go. You are the most important adult in your child’s life!