Posts by Anita Blake
How Was Your Day?
The purpose of this article is to challenge parents to use every opportunity given us to “engage” in the lives of our children. Much is revealed about our devotion to our children’s well-being in our conversation with them on any given topic, and at any point in time during the day. “Let your conversation be…
Read MoreWhere Does My Help Come From?
In our role as parents, times of uncertainty appear even more daunting because it draws our attention to our children and their wellbeing. We get the sense that just like a “mother hen,” we must gather our children around us, spread our wings, cover, and protect them. It is a very natural byproduct in parenting…
Read MoreThe Adult in the Room?
In our parenting efforts, we might find ourselves burdened by responsibility and outcomes that seem too heavy. We at any given moment may want to throw our hands up. It is helpful to pause and consider what the alternative would be. As parents we can easily find ourselves frustrated and even bitter when our efforts…
Read MoreAn Improved Version
We are bombarded daily with advertisements promising an “improved or updated product.” Our constant technology updates ensure us that we are getting more efficient performance with less problems. These opportunities come to us because mankind is a perpetual student always learning of a better way. Parents also can learn and improve upon our parenting. “Great…
Read MoreA Lost Dinosaur – ‘Kindness’
What ever happened to teaching our children manners? Did we get too busy or distracted? Did we let other influences wreak havoc on their sense of right and wrong? Kindness and manners are the essentials of a decent society. They are an appropriate behavior that will produce good for our children and for those who…
Read MoreHappy Valentine’s Day!
This is my annual reminder to parents to help their children navigate Valentine’s Day on a developmentally appropriate basis. We need to stand our ground and avoid the peer pressure put on us and our children to overdo this day. Media and other invasions in our lives have redefined and added to the simple “friendship”…
Read MoreTeach and Counsel
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the…
Read MoreBe Encouraged
God is still on His Throne! Psalm 89:36-37: “His seed shall endure forever, And His throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Be reminded that on His Sovereign Throne sits God, Who defined righteousness, and Who knows what is evil. …
Read MoreThe Ones Who Do Show Up!
One of the concerns of our contemporary culture is the normalizing of a lack of a work ethic. We focus a lot on leisure, relaxation, and excusing ourselves from our responsibilities. I was at a local establishment this week and was told that all but two employees had laid out from work that day. Work…
Read MorePleasant and Enjoyable?
How does this time of year resonate in my thinking and my discipline? Do I use the calendar to reflect and evaluate, and ultimately change what needs changing? We just left the season where we constantly told our children that “Santa” was watching to see if they were good or bad? The Truth is, God…
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