I would like to apologize for being late writing this week’s blog. So let
me take a minute to explain why and share something that happened this week with
you—something I hope you’ll take to heart as you parent your children.
If you know me, you know I spend a few weeks every summer with middle school and junior high kids at church camp. No, I’m not crazy. I
love them!
Anyway…each evening after chapel service we have what is called social
hour. Social hour is a time when the kids participate in an organized activity
that is fun, somewhat competitive, and all about building relationships and comradery.
Some of the activities for social hour are somewhat traditional; meaning we do
them every year. Last year, however, we tried something new—an obstacle course.
The course consisted of several ‘traditional’ obstacle course activities—including
a ten to twelve foot wall the kids had to go up and over using the rope and
three furring strips for toe-holds.
When several of the kids (boys and girls) saw the wall, the first words
out of their mouths were “I can’t do that!”
“Yes you can,” I’d say. “You can do this. Emily is going to help you
get started, Drake and Austin will be there when you get to the top, and I’ll
be here when you come down on the other side.”
“I can’t,” some of them would repeat…as they grabbed hold and started to
make their way up.
When they came over the wall and landed next to me, the look on their
faces was priceless! Ecstatic…confident…pumped…amazed…and proud are just a few
of the words I would use to describe their attitudes. Not one camper failed to
make it over that wall!
In less than
two minute’s time these kids went from being scared and anxious to being NOT
scared and NOT anxious. Why? Because they were able to conquer their fear and experience the joy of knowing we believed in them.
As parents your children need to know that you believe in them—that you
are there for them to cheer them on and help them conquer their fears, and to show
AND tell them that they can do anything they set their mind to.
Your kids are going to have a lot of walls to go over in this life—walls they
are going to come to with an attitude of “I can’t”. Will you be there to tell
them they can and will you be there when they come down the other side to say “Great
job! I knew you could do it!”?
Love,
Momma D
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