Pencils, Pens, Bookbags, Don’t Forget Jesus!

Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”- Ecc;esoastes 12:1

Have you noticed the commercials on television that are advertising back to school shopping? Everyone emphasizes the latest fashions that reflect the pop culture that our children are growing up in. In terms of appeal – these commercials are good- I know that that the dramatic flair that they exhibit are wooing young people into being very concerned about how they look when they return to school!

The very good Madison Avenue execs who create the insatiable appetite that Americans have for the latest and more… is something that is probably not going away. Neither is the long (and getting longer every year) list of school supplies and book orders that schools are requiring. Yes, every year you will have to get the pencils, the pens, the book bags – and as they grow older the scientific calculators, laptops, etc, etc. And with all the preparation and all the supplies, our children will go to school and be subjected to a godless, amoral curriculum; more attention on social issues than basic skills; an inordinate number of students (and sometimes teachers) who are confused about their identity; an emphasis on assessments that may not reflect their real level of achievement and certainly not their potential.

Having said all this – one thing to include on the supply list and certainly on the “Things to Do” List is to include Jesus! As Christians, we are always learning more and more about our Savior – our daily tests and trialls hellp us locate where we are and have the potential to take us to a new understanding of who God is in our life. If we are living this life right – it takes work – prayer alone won’t do it, reading the Word alone won’t do it – reflection alone won’t do it – church alone won’t do it. We need all of these and more – a double dose of mercy and grace – the favor of God – and all of heaven to help us!

If we need all these things – what about our children, many of whom are struggling to find out what they believe. Is their school supply list complete, without Jesus? Can we afford to send them to school without prayer? Can we neglect talking to them and finding out what their days are like? Can we overlook their being involved in a children or youth group at church? Is a well-supplied Christian student ever really ready for school – without a well formulated plan of active spiritual development?

Now, more than ever, we have to see that our children don’t leave home without Jesus!

God Bless You,
Maria