[Please join me in praying for parents, children, families, and our future on Thursdays.]
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9 NIV)
“…[E]ducation was the panacea for all woes. Of the platitudes I heard non-stop, statements about education held top place. Yet, my mother was not the person who demonstrated to me the single most important principle of accomplishing homework or any other unwanted task. A now faceless person during my college years convinced me that the effort needed to procrastinate is nearly always greater than the effort needed for completing the task itself. I have this vague memory of a scribbled graph comparing the effort required to do a project with effort needed to avoid doing the same project. The avoiding-line was much longer.
“Furthermore, as all adults know, that simple principle applies to far more activities than homework. It applies to writing a thank-you note, vacuuming the carpet, organizing a closet, walking the dog on a cold night, or cleaning out the refrigerator (to give my top example!)
“‘Go do it. Get it done.’ I repeat these same words daily, not just to homework-delinquent grandkids, but to myself! Years will pass before the grandkids can internalize this lesson. To myself, I say these words in order to start the motor and put me in gear.
“Repetition of platitudes is one of the toughest jobs a parent has. Yet it is the best tool we humans have to instill facts, admonitions, warnings, and wisdom into children. “How many times do I have to tell you this?” my mother asked, knowing the answer was “thousands.” Still, at some point her thousands of planted seeds took root and sprouted. It may not have been my mother’s graph that finally swayed me to accomplish tasks rather than avoid them. But it was her diligent repetition of such maxims that tilled the ground, watered the seedlings, and warmed the soil with sun and her constant faith.” * – Carol Reynolds
God,
Thank you for telling us thousands of time in thousands of ways that you love us and you want the best for us. Today we ask that you would strengthen parents who are in the thick of planting your good seeds in their children. Give them abundant grace as they raise these treasured young ones, but give them your strength and courage to stand for your godly principles in their child rearing. Bless them, keep them, make your face shine upon them, and give them peace, we ask in the strong name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV)
*https://professorcarol.com/2023/10/05/in-praise-of-diligent-reminders/