With the flip of the calendar, “August” now stares us in the face. And we all know what that means (at least those of us with kids in school): Summer is coming to a screeching halt!
But instead of fully enjoying our last lazy days, we moms kick in to gear getting everything lined up for fall and our kids prepared. Before we know it the blank pages in our still clean calendars will be filled with practices, games, lessons, tutors, meetings, volunteering, parties, weekend tournaments, college football games and more. So we shop for new clothes and school supplies now and may even ‘pin’ new recipes so we are ready for the crazy days ahead.
In thinking about this it hit me, the one thing we often neglect to prepare/parent is what matters most – their hearts! Why is it despite all our planning we give relatively little thought to the when, how and what of our kids’ spiritual nourishment and growth?
Yes, they may go to youth group as it fits in their schedules, but that isn’t a substitute for Sunday worship and shouldn’t ever negate our job as parents to be their primary soul care provider. Nothing is more important than helping our kids see their need for Jesus and understanding who he is for them. But in order for them to grasp the truths of the gospel in a way that transforms their hearts, time spent in the Word and with fellow believers must be prioritized and planned for just like everything else. (Which by the way goes for us, too.) And we must think through how to engage them in conversations that bring the gospel to bear on their every day situations.
This is the high and holy calling of parenting many of us are unsure how to handle, which is why it is so much easier to tackle all the other tasks. But with a plan in place it is doable, just like the rest of what fills our days. And that is why I feel like now is a great time to bring back up my book, Get Your Story Straight: A Teen’s Guide to Learning and Living the Gospel – a 52-week devotional book and small group resource for both teen/college-age guys and girls.
Because our family is no different than yours and I know how easy it is to get busy and neglect spiritual disciplines, we recently came up with our plan. Our two teenage boys on their own are going to work through Get Your Story Straight one week at a time. Then one night each week during dinner we will discuss together the days’ devotions they have completed.
What better time to re-start this plan then at the beginning of a new school year!? Unless, your teen is like my Nashville friend’s daughter (pictured below) who has been diligently diving into the Word with Get Your Story Straight all summer!
You can only imagine my delight when this pic was texted to me:)
Whatever your story, I hope this encourages you to come up with a plan – for both your kids and for yourself – to make sure in the midst of impending busyness you are feeding your souls with the only thing that can fill you.
If you need ideas for other devotional material or Bible studies for anyone in your family, I’ld love to help. To order Get Your Story Straight or inquire about group rate pricing visit my Books page: here.
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Love it ! I was reading your email just like all the others and then there was Mary Caroline!!!
Please give me some ideas for another study she can do when she finishes this one!! She has really enjoyed it. It’s the only devotional/study with which she has been consistent. Proud of you Kristen for all your hard work!
Lol! I was going to text you this morning to tell you I used her picture here:) I’m so glad to know GYSS is the devotional book she’s been consistent with and hope this is the case for every other teen using it! Sadly, there still isn’t much on the market for teens that get them in the Word, point to Christ throughout all the Scriptures and apply the gospel straight to their hearts where they are. Believe me, I hope to help change this! But for now, I would imagine she could use some material written to adult women. A couple devotional books I know are theologically sound that I plan to work through myself are Courtney Doctor’s From Garden to Glory and Jen Wilkin’s Sermon on the Mount. I’ll keep you posted on thoughts for teen use so let me know when she gets closer to finishing GYSS.
Sounds good! Will do! Thanks again. Can’t believe your baby girl is going to college!!!!