In our home, we also look forward to exchanging summer décor for autumn decorations.  This usually involves at least one trip to a local farm to find pumpkins as well as apples and cider to be sampled.  These routines have become part of our family’s fall regimen, which offers a reassuring rhythm to our lives.

I’ve been thinking a lot about routines and habits lately—and not simply because of the shifting seasons.  I recently read a book by a famous dancer and choreographer who penned these words:  “Even in the worst of times …. habits sustain, protect, and, in the most unlikely way, lift us up”  (Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit, p. 243).  This particular reflection happened to be about how she, as a New Yorker, coped with the tragedy of September 11, 2001—but Ms. Tharp has also found that fostering certain habits has been beneficial to many aspects of her life.

I believe the same principle is true for our walk of faith.  By building spiritual routines into our experiences, we create patterns that help us in the good, bad, and in-between times of living.  Actually, from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus made it clear that the Christian walk must be one of routine:  “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me’” (Luke 9:23-24, New Living Translation).

What are some of these daily habits—or “take up your cross” activities— that you and I can be developing as we strive to follow Jesus?  Here are a few routines to consider:

May the days ahead will be filled with family, fun, and a harvest of blessings as well as lots of great habits that will help you through all seasons of life.

As long-time readers know, we are big supporters of education.  In fact, education is one of the three pillars to successful parenting we discuss in Sonkist Ministries’ book, Straight Lines for Parents:  9 Strategies for Raising Exceptional Kids.  Steve and I have not only devoted our lives to people-helping, I have also spent over thirty years of my professional career in the field of education.

With that said, however, this Back-to-School season we want to address some concerns which have been voiced to us about changes taking place in the educational landscape across the United States. Let’s begin by sharing one unsettling situation a couple experienced this past school year.  Their first grader came home with a reading assignment about a little boy who looked into a mirror and struggled with the decision of whether or not he was male or female.  The startled parents went straight to school the next morning, hoping that some error had been made with this piece of curriculum. After talking to the principal, they realized this story had indeed been added to the reading program—and school leaders had no intention of removing it. To add to the dilemma, these parents were scolded and told they needed to get comfortable with changes in 21^st century thinking!

Needless to say, the parents were upset over the entire scenario. In their mind, this type of curriculum had no place in first grade.  They also felt disrespected and disengaged from their child’s school where changes in policy and programming used to be discussed with parents.  After much prayer, they’ve decided that they cannot let this situation continue without exhausting every effort to either remove this material from the curriculum—or at least make other parents aware of what is happening, perhaps without their knowledge, in their local schools.

Sadly, educational dilemmas are on the increase in our society as more and more “agendas” are being crammed into an already overburdened system.  In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, some activists feel the public education setting is an ideal platform to promote their specific programs.  Perhaps even more disconcerting, some of these topics are far-removed from the Judeo-Christian principles which American education has been based upon in decades past.

What can you and I do in the midst of culture shifts that are creating these kinds of dilemmas in the world of education?  Here are a few ideas I’d like to suggest to you:

1. Parents are the primary educators of their children, so embrace that role fully! Even if your children are in private school, part of your calling is to educate your kids—especially when it comes to spiritual matters.Notice the rationale for this found in Psalm 78 above:“so each generation should set its hope anew on God.”  No matter who we are, as believers there is nothing more important than passing on God’s truths to others in our lives!

2. All of us—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and citizens in general—should be praying for our public schools, private schools, and those involved in home schooling.Pray for the leaders; pray for the teachers.Pray for families.Remember, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b, NIV).

3. Most public school educators are truly dedicated to doing what’s best for kids, but they are also employees of the government which legislates the policies and procedures they must follow (as a former public school teacher, I am well aware of this fact). So, when you need to address a problem, always try to do so with these thoughts in mind—as well as this great reminder given to us in Colossians 4:5-6:  “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”

4. Get more involved in local schools. They need you, and you also need to stay in touch with what’s going on. Here’s an insightful Barna article you may want to check out for additional thoughts on this topic:https://www.barna.org/barna-update/culture/681-public-schools-christians-are-part-of-the-solution#.V3_AZpBHaK0.

5. If you aren’t happy with your children’s school, look for other alternatives. For example, I have been very involved with charter schools for the past six years. More of these publicly-funded school options are opening in communities across the country, which, according the National Center for Education Statistics, are now serving the needs of more than 2.5 million U.S. students. Most of them offer smaller class sizes with specialized programs, and many are thrilled to have families involved in the educational process! For further reading, check out the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools at http://www.publiccharters.org.  There are also many alternatives for families that would like to home school, and some charter schools support students who are involved in these “independent study” programs.

Little children were brought for Jesus to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. “Don’t bother him,” they said.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t prevent them. For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” And he put his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

 Matthew 19:13-15, The Living Bible