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Teaching Kids to Respect Their Teachers

 

Remember kindergarten when your daughter’s teacher was a saint in her eyes? Back then the teacher knew everything. Your daughter adored her.

In middle school, well, not so much.

As kids mature and reach an age of discernment, they also learn to be critical. They might begin making fun of their teachers or testing their boundaries in new ways. As parents it’s our job to teach our kids to respect authority—even if that authority supposedly smells like cat food or hums out of tune.

Here are a few important points to share:

 

God commands us to respect authority. Why should we respect our teachers? Because God says so. Plain and simple. Respecting your teacher is obedience to God.

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17).

 

Christians should love others. How do we show the world that we are Jesus followers? By praying? By reading the Bible? By singing worship songs and attending youth group? Those are all great activities, but they are not the mark of a true Christian. Can you guess what is? Loving others—including your teachers.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

 

We all have flaws. Whenever your child is tempted to point out a habit or character trait she dislikes about her teacher, gently remind her that no one is perfect, yet God loves us all. Encourage her to accept her teacher’s human faults just as God accepts her own.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7).

 

Pray! Perhaps your daughter feels her teacher treats her poorly. In that case, you may need to consider addressing the issue with school administrators. But first spend some time with your daughter in prayer, asking God to give you both wisdom and strength to forgive. Then ask God to bless and equip the teacher to guide students in an honorable way.

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28).

 

Throughout the school year, keep an open line of communication between you, your daughter, and her teachers. And be aware of how you represent God in each of those relationships. The best way to teach respect is by example!

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Preparing Your Child’s Heart for Back to School

Summer is fun but school can be, too. This time of year we need to help our kids transition from flip flops and popsicles to textbooks and alarm clocks. That process goes beyond just shopping for school supplies. It’s important to prepare their hearts, too.

 

Here are three ways to encourage your children as they get ready to go back to school.

 

  1. Pray. Each evening as a family, pray for your child’s teachers and classmates. Pray that the teachers would find the time and energy they need to prepare their curriculum and class materials. Pray that they would be filled with wisdom and compassion for their students and that God would bless their calling. Pray also for your child to be surrounded by kind and loving friends, and that she would have the courage to live out her faith this school year.
  2. Create a schedule. Work with your daughter to devise a reasonable schedule that includes time for personal Bible reading and devotions amid all those homework projects and extracurriculars. Encourage her to be intentional about carving out time for family and rest as well, “for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2b, NLT).
  3. Go on a practice run. If you’ve got to go back to school, you might as well make it a party. Pick a morning the week school resumes and invite friends to join you on a test run. Set the alarms, get dressed and ready, then meet in the school parking lot for donuts. It’s a great opportunity to get excited about the year ahead!

 

Regardless of how you prepare, be sure to remind your daughter why school is part of God’s plan for her life. Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man,” she can do it, too.

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A Living Sacrifice to Whom? {A Back-to-School Prayer for Mom}

A living sacrifice to whom

Mom, you’ll be a living sacrifice this school year, guaranteed.

But to whom?

You’re used to sacrificing yourself for your kids. If you work outside the home, you know about making sacrifices for the sake of your job. And as the school year starts, you know many sacrifices lie ahead… time, money, energy, your own agenda.

But who is it all for? Your kids? Your husband? Your workplace? The school? The world? Other moms?

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:1-2

As the school year kicks off, present your body as a living sacrifice to Christ. Let this be your worship, your ministry… the consecration of yourself to God’s will for you!

Heavenly Father,

I know you see me and love me in the midst of the craziness right now. You’ve given me this family to bless and to nurture. You have promised to give me the strength to do whatever you call me to do. As this school year begins, I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you.

I give myself… my body, my energy, my health, my sleep or lack thereof to you.

Please give me wisdom in caring for myself this year. Help me make wise choices so that I can serve you in serving my family. I’m weak and human and fail often. I get sick and tired, but even then, I want be yielded to you.

Use me in my physical strength and in my physical weakness. Help me trust you and lean on you no matter how I’m feeling. Give me the power of your Spirit to bless my family and bless others with whatever physical health you allow me.

Lord, I also give you my mind, emotions, and my soul.

I want my thoughts to honor you. I lay my selfishness on the altar before you. When I’m tempted to dwell on the negative, renew my mind. Help me fill it with your Word and take every thought captive into obedience to you.

When my feelings are hurt, when I’m overwhelmed, lonely, jealous, anxious, angry, or confused, remind me that my identity and comfort is in you alone.

Help my soul to find joy in you rather than in the world. Don’t let me conform to the way the world thinks. Help me understand what your will is and then to be passionate about walking in it.

My family needs you this year.

I pray that as I commit myself to you, you’ll use me to draw them closer to you as well. Let me and my entire family be used for your glory in the months ahead. As we study, as we get involved in extra-curricular activities, let us learn and grow and shine your light. We want to be ready to give an answer to others for the hope that we have in you.

I give myself to you, Lord. 

Through Jesus, Amen.

 

by Jennifer Ebenhack

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