Children Learn What YOU Live

I wrote this short article for the October issue of The Courier, the CHOOSE CT homeschooling newsletter.

Recently, I read an article from Home Education Magazine entitled “Getting the Support You Need Without a Formal Support Group” where the author stated that she eschews support group membership for several reasons, most of which I considered selfish, but that is beside the point. The article made me consider why I belong to a support group. While I could probably give multiple reasons, due to space considerations, I will discuss only one: children learn what YOU live.

Demographers increasingly tell us that our culture is becoming more connected via the Internet, yet more disconnected on a face-to-face basis. Certain segments of our society are requiring more social services (the delivery of which often depends on volunteers), yet membership in volunteer organizations is plummeting. We are told that life in America is changing at breakneck speed, yet our ability to cope with such change is declining. We are lonelier, needier, and more stressed-out than ever.

As parents who are building the next generation of grown-ups, how do we combat loneliness, neediness and stress? We need to demonstrate, or LIVE, the needed skills now:

- Love your neighbor as yourself: spend time with real people, some of whom may be hand-selected friends and some of whom may be in need of friendship. Work at creating and maintaining a broad-based social support system. It is difficult to love your neighbor if you never see him, and it is difficult to be lonely if you stay connected. A support group provides this connection.

- Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you: it is so efficient to write a check when help is needed, but actually contributing your time and talents is so much more rewarding, and it addresses both loneliness and neediness. You are physically present to love your neighbor, and you are meeting his needs through your service. It is difficult to serve others if you never extend yourself in service. A support group provides the opportunity to serve and to be served (if necessary).

- Be anxious for nothing: it is so easy to stress in our culture. The media constantly bombards us with images and advice (mine included) that create expectations of how we should look, what we should accomplish, and how we should behave. It is all just too much! So, what to do? Look to the Lord for your expectations. Discuss it with Him in prayer. Seek counsel from other believers. And, let your kids see you do it! A support group provides such counsel and prayer opportunities.

Be a joiner! Let your kids see you contribute, not just in your church but in your community as well. Let the Lord set your standards and take everything to Him in prayer. God bless.

After visiting Janet's Planet this morning, I would like to share a verse with you that she added to the end of a recent post:

Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you.. "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land." --- Deuteronomy 15:10-11 NRSV