Growing up

A statistic given at a seminar Saturday got my attention. The seminar was concerned with teaching at the high school level.

Today, 70% of young men aren't grown up until age 30. In the early 1960's, 30% of young men weren't grown up until age 30. Think of the change in 50 years.

Don't get sidetracked on the term "grown up." I know there are variations on that, but we can miss the bigger picture here. You know, and I know, young men who are without direction for most of their 20's - and some beyond.

At the seminar, the speaker commented that many of our young men have lots of energy but no direction.

We need a vision as we raise our teenagers. Specifically, they asked, what is God's calling for this young person?

It was a reminder to me that without vision, we are lost. We need a reason to get out of bed each morning.

As followers of Jesus, we are here to glorify God and be stewards of his world. I hope we can find ways to pass that purpose on to our children.

Freedom and responsibility

When I was 3 years old, a neighboring farmer lugged me home from the field where he was working with heavy equipment. I was an escapee on the prowl and my mother was aghast.

Our yard was fenced but my folks then added barbed wire at the top (I don’t think it was coiled like the prison walls but I could be wrong…). They repaired any holes under the fence. They put boards beneath the gates so I couldn’t scoot under.

There wasn’t anything at home I didn’t like but my curiosity extended beyond the fence. I craved freedom but had no sense of responsibility yet.

I finally stayed put because even my curiosity couldn’t find a way out.

I then discovered that there was plenty to do in that big yard anyway. (Ask me sometime about putting salt on the bird’s tail.)

By the time I could open the gate, I had better sense than to stand in front of a landmover and walk down the middle of the highway. When I finally earned some freedom, I had outgrown most of my foolishness (and the rest is permanently imbedded).

Freedom and responsibility must be blended until there’s no difference.

Parenting tip: it’s OK to protect until your kids grow up. The day will come when they will open the gate. Take that time to be sure they’re ready to walk out.

A fun contest

A Girls ’n Grace Christmas Contest!

Pam Davis, creator of Girls ’n Grace, and Authentic Books are sponsoring a contest, just in time for Christmas. To launch the release of the latest two books in the Girls ’n Grace series, Sydney Claire: A Girl ’n Grace in the 1960’s and Mesi’s Season of Change: A Friendship Story, they are giving away one of the character dolls.

As a Christian mother, Pam Davis knows the lasting imprint that “playtime” can really leave on an impressionable little girl. With the right character as a role model, God could use those sweet afternoon tea parties, hours of make-believe, and sleepovers to sow seeds of faith in tender hearts. This concept became the foundation for the Girls ’n Grace products, a line of dolls and books designed to fulfill Davis’ dream of demonstrating to today’s young girls what it means to be girls of grace.

To enter the doll giveaway contest, submit your story about your best teachable grace moment with a child in your life to mystory@girlsngrace.com. Below is the information that you need to include on your entry.

· All entries must be submitted by December 17 to mystory@girlsngrace.com
· Stories should be 400 words or less
· Include the name of the blog site (or a link to the blog) where you saw the contest
· Include your preference of Sydney Clair or Mesi doll
· The winner will be notified, and the doll will be shipped to arrive on December 23.
· Please note that entries may be reprinted/reposted by Girls ’n Grace and Authentic

If you would like to post this contest on your blog site too, please send the link of your post to ajennings@tbbmedia.com, and you will receive a copy of each of the new books. The blog that has the most entries will also win a doll to keep for themselves or that can be given away on their blog.

Visit the Girls ’n Grace interactive website at www.girlsngrace.com for more information about the books, dolls, Bible studies, games and more.