Tag Archives: raising kids

Children Test our Love

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by Pat Lamb (Author of “Let the Children Come”; “Children, Come to Me”; “When the Stars Fall Down”; “Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way”; “My Thinking Book”. Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or patlambchristianauthor.com )

Train up a child…

Children Test our Love

       If we were to ask every parent, “Do you love your children?” probably almost all of them would say, “Of course, I love my children!”  There is no doubt that most parents really try to love their children all the time.  There is a natural, inborn attachment to our children; however, when it comes to the everyday nitty-gritty, down-to-earth task of raising children, it is not always easy to show love to our children.

         Every day our love is tested by those to whom we give most of our time and effort. Children test us unknowingly and innocently.  As they go through the natural processes of growing up, their actions and circumstances place a constant demand on us.  We are tested in every characteristic of love.  I Corinthians 13 in the Bible gives us a description of love. It tells us that love is long-suffering, doesn’t put itself up higher than others, isn’t easily provoked, is patient, doesn’t have to have its own way, bears all things, endures all things, and doesn’t lose hope.  Children test us in each of these categories.  

         What patience it takes with the newborn!  Our patience and long-suffering are tested each time a parent gets up at night to feed the child and care for it.  There is actual physical suffering as the sleep-deprived parent stumbles to the baby to comfort it.  It seems so hard!  Just when we think the baby is comforted, it starts crying again, requiring the same action by parents over and over.

         As the baby grows and becomes a toddler, again our patience is tested as we tell the young child “no, no” and the child continues in the forbidden action.  Even our physical stamina is tested as we constantly take little hands away from places they should not be.  At this point, we may become “easily provoked”.  

         Parents “bear all things” as the child continues to grow to school age.  We put up with people who may point out our child’s imperfections.  After all, we’ve invested a lot in the child by now.  When someone shows us a fault, it is often taken as a reflection on our ability to parent the child.  What do we do?  Most of the time there is no choice but to grin and “bear it”.  We must continue to have hope that the child will overcome the flaw.  

         As the child grows into the teen years, we seem to be tested even more than before.  Getting up at night with the newborn or chasing after the toddler seems preferable to dealing with the heartaches that are often experienced by parents of teens.  Here we find that we do not always get our own way and we must endure a great deal. 

         When children finally reach adulthood, our love test is still proceeding.  Choices are made by children that we don’t always agree with, but we love our children in spite of not “having our own way”.  Many times we even have to swallow our pride and admit that the child knew better than we did.

         When I send my children valentines each year, I try to do a self-evaluation.  Do I have the love that God expects me to have for my children?  Have I been a good example for them to show love to others?  Have I taught them the real meaning of love?  I’m glad that we are not expected to be perfect.  Hopefully, the children have learned enough about love to love me in return in spite of my own imperfections!

It’s Tough to be a Teen

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book) www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

It’s Tough to be a Teen

         I once viewed a video from the Missouri School Board Association that started off with a statement that one out of every five students in Missouri high schools contemplates suicide at one time or another.  What a terrible statistic!  The gentleman speaking went on to encourage all school workers in Missouri to be on the lookout for troubled students.

         Why would teens want to commit suicide?  One of the reasons given by experts is lack of hope.  Another reason is the use of drugs.  A third reason, in my opinion, may be a lack of religious training to educate them with the fact that suicide is not an end, but a beginning of an after life.

         It is difficult for teenagers to cope in society.  Most adults expect teens to be a problem.  This causes teens to feel that it is normal for them to do things they shouldn’t be doing.  I believe, as do many other teachers with whom I’ve spoken, that around age 12 a child comes to a crossroad in life. At this point, the child makes a decision as to whether he/she will try to live a good life or just go for doing what feels good at the moment.  Peer pressure influences this decision greatly.  In addition to peer pressure, children at this age have generally come in contact with many different sets of values.  Each teacher in school has his/her own set of rules and values. Parents have a set of rules and values. If the child comes from a broken home, the rules and values of step-parents have also probably differed. The children have to deal with the values and rules of grandparents from both the real parents and the step parents. Is it any wonder that children become confused?  This is especially true considering the fact that most children have not attended church to learn the real values taught there.

         Hormonal changes at this point in life have a great effect on the child.  Studies show that the cerebellum, the back part of the brain, is actually larger in puberty in proportion to the cerebrum, the front part of the brain.  This causes the teen to act on impulse rather than thinking things through.  It isn’t until about age 20 that the two parts of the brain come to correct proportion.  Rapid growth accompanies the hormonal changes and causes a child to be awkward. One week, when a child reached for a glass of water, the arm was at one length. Soon after, the arm is longer and the brain hasn’t adjusted to the new length, and the child may turn the glass over and spill the water.  On top of all of this, horror of horrors, pimples start appearing on the face!

         While all of these things are happening, children can be very cruel to each other.  Bullying is terrible, but it does exist.  We can’t guard every word that comes from the mouth of someone, but, thankfully, efforts are being made in many schools to stop bullying.

         Is it any wonder that teens are looking for a way out of all of this?  It is too bad that they don’t understand that suicide is not the answer. We need to remind teens that all that is happening is temporary, and if they can hold on, things will get better. 

         The very best thing parents can do is to get their children in a good church that teaches the love of Christ.  If they understand this principle, they will always feel loved.  As they are taught that God has a plan for each life, they experience hope that is so desperately needed.  It is difficult to understand why more parents don’t get their children in church.  It costs no money.  Additional people are concerned for the child’s welfare.  Many activities are provided that are wholesome activities. I could go on and on about the positive values of church and can think of no negative things.  Let’s do what is best for our children and put our personal likes and dislikes aside.

Children Need to Learn Personal Responsibility

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com)

Train up a child…

Children Need to Learn Personal Responsibility

         “The government should buy each of us an electronic dictionary.”

         “They’re all a bunch of crooks!”

         “The President should__________.”

         “The only jobs there are are those old crappy jobs.” 

“The government doesn’t give us enough money to live on.

The above are all true comments heard in GED class when I was teaching.  They clearly indicate a lack of understanding of how our government is supposed to be a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”.  “We, the people,” not “They, the people” are responsible for what happens in our country.

         Children need to be taught at an early age to accept personal responsibility as citizens for self and others.  Without this teaching, people become like leeches, living off the lives of others.  

         Children need to see their parents go vote.  Children need to hear their parents talk civilly about the candidates and their policies.  Children need to understand that our founding fathers set up a government with checks and balances making the congressmen and congresswomen as responsible as the president for decisions that are made.

         I have found that very few of the students I have taught knew the three branches of the government: executive, legislative, and judicial.  They did not know that the Senate and House of Representatives make up Congress.  They did not know that there are two Senators from each state and that Representatives are elected according to population based on the census every ten years. Further, they did not know the meaning of checks and balances, a system set up by the founders of our country to make sure that no one branch of government has too much power.  Had they known about the system of checks and balances, they would have known that the president cannot be solely blamed for mistakes nor can he solely take credit for successes.  In fact, the president can do very little alone.  Understanding this fact would make more people take greater consideration in the Senators and Representatives they vote for.  

         Children need to be taught that all money coming from Washington, D.C., must first go there, and that taxpayers are the ones who send it there.  They need to be told that they have a responsibility to send money toWashington, D.C. and not just think of what they can get fromWashington, D.C.    In fact, right now other countries are helping fund our government, making us indebted to them.  Also, by the time our tax money goes to Washington and then comes back, it has dwindled a great deal due to the many expenses associated with counting, disbursement, etc.  It would be of more personal value to keep it home in the first place.  

         Unfortunately, many parents act as though they do not understand these facts.  If parents and grandparents do not understand, how can they teach the children?  Perhaps greater thought needs to be given before discussing our government in front of children. WE are the government.  We govern through the people we elect.  We have no right to say they are the government.  We need to write letters, attend meetings held by our voted-in officials, and encourage our elected officials to govern as it was originally intended.

         Let’s make sure our children understand the truth about our country.  If we start teaching our children about our government while they are young, perhaps they will know more when they grow up than one student I had who wrote in a paper about “President Busch”.  

Note: Check out my latest book: My Thinking Book__A daily devotional book for children concisely explaining basic teachings of the Bible. Available on my website: www.patlambchristianauthor.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble.

Ideas to Celebrate July 4

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com) Check out “My Thinking Book” for children!

Train up a child…

Ideas to Celebrate July 4

         It is so important to create good memories for children and the 4thof July is a perfect opportunity to do just that.  There needs to be time in every child’s life to just simply have fun and enjoy the family. Of course, if we can teach something important at the same time, so much the better.

         Children need to know what they are celebrating.  They need to know that the 4thof July is also called Independence Day and that it is the anniversary of the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, in 1776.

         John Adams, one of the founders of our new nation, said, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.”  Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. In 1941, Congress declared July 4 a legal public holiday.

         There are three websites on the Internet that give ideas for crafts, games, decorations, recipes, and more to help celebrate Independence Day.  They are:

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/about.html

         www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/july4/

           holidays.kaboose.com/july-4/

         There are several other good ones as well. When I checked these out, I found that they have simple craft ideas suitable for very young children as well as ideas for older children and even adults.  The ideas and some patterns are free.  There is even a flag for young children to color with the stars representing the original 13 colonies.

         Our former Vice-President’s wife, Lynn Cheney, has written three books to help children appreciate the founding of our country.  They are Fifty States,A Family Adventure across America;A Time for Freedom,What Happenedin America;andWhen Washington Crossed the Delaware.  All three of these books are available in the Kimberling Area Library.  

         Some folks like to do elaborate cookouts and that is great.  Here is a very simple recipe, however, for those who don’t like to go to so much effort.  Our family used this many times, not necessarily on the 4th. It is a recipe that children can help with. Each person has his/her own foil bundle to open and can fix it as desired, varying the amount of potatoes or meat and seasoning it to personal preference.  

Hamburger & Potatoes in Foil:

         Take a square piece of foil large enough for a hamburger patty and a potato.  Spray the foil with Pam.  Slice a potato and put 3 or 4 slices in the center of the foil.  Salt and pepper the potatoes. Lay an uncooked hamburger patty on the potatoes and put 3 or 4 more slices of potato on top of it. Sprinkle with salt and pepper again. Bring the foil up and seal with a double fold.  Place on the grill and forget them while you play with the kids.  After a few minutes, check to see if they are done.  

         Fly your American flag high and enjoy Independence Day!

Our Children Face an Uncertain Future

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com) Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book (a devotional book for children)

Train up a child…

Our Children Face an Uncertain Future

         There is a lot of concern in our country at the moment about the issues our children and grandchildren will have to face when they become voting age.  Never before has our country been so far in debt.  In recent years, we have seen one disaster after another in our country.  Our concern for the future of our children is justifiable.

         The question naturally follows, “What can we do to prepare our children for their future?”  There are at least three things I would suggest. In all generations, children need to be given a firm spiritual foundation.  In addition, children need to be informed about the happenings in society, and they need a sufficient education to equip them to be able to cope with finances.

         There is an inborn curiosity about where we came from and why we are here.  If this curiosity is not satisfied at an early age, the search continues into adulthood whether admitted or not.  Sometimes the curiosity is suppressed, but many times children grow up and join cults.  Sometimes they place their hope in owning things or gaining prestige.  They may turn to the “god” of popularity.  Any number of things may be chosen as their god. Time, energy, talents, and money are used in the direction chosen.  On the other hand, if children are given a good spiritual foundation in understanding the Bible and its teachings, their lives are turned in the right direction and time, talents, money, and energy are not wasted on things that really do not count in the long run.  Children who grow up with no spiritual foundation are like a ship tossed here and there in a storm.  They have no anchor.  It has been said that if we go whatever way the wind blows, we will someday be caught in a whirlwind.  Children need a strong, secure anchor.

         The spiritual foundation is, without a doubt, the most important thing that children need to face the future.  In addition, children need to be informed about happenings in society.  They cannot handle having all the problems dumped on them at once.  Parents need to take time and explain happenings in small doses as the child is able to handle the information.  Unfortunately, most children grow up with fragments of information gleaned by overhearing parents complain about political situations.  Parents often find it difficult to keep emotions out of discussions involving our country.  It is alright to interject opinions, but to truly understand, it is helpful for children to know how others reason their convictions.  The word “information” is the key.  Children can surprisingly understand much more than we often give them credit for. If we give them facts, they can often reason truth for themselves.

         Our country is behind several other countries in education.  Our children need to be encouraged by parents to have the right attitude toward learning.  Math is so critical in all areas of life.  Of course, reading is important as well, but in recent years more attention has been given to reading and many children are insufficient in math.  Children need to be taught thriftiness at home. By figuring money saved, math is taught.

         We have a gigantic task in front of us to truly prepare the children for what they are facing.  We must give our best effort to do so. 

Experience is the Best Teacher

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com)

Train up a child…

Experience is the Best Teacher

         Now that the end of school is near, thoughts naturally turn toward summer activities.  It is a good idea to plan activities for the summer that will teach children those needed things that the school curriculum cannot cover. School vacation is perhaps the only opportunity to teach children what they need to know to provide a good home for their children when they grow up. It also provides an opportunity for family outings that will enhance a child’s understanding of what is taught from books in school.

         Providing experiences during the summer months is the best way to teach children.  These experiences should include the actual doing of housecleaning, cooking, and home maintenance.  In addition, trips should be planned to take children where they can experience first hand some of the historical sites or places of interest.

         A good way to plan the summer is to sit down with the children and ask each to say what he/she would choose to do to help in the home. Children who make a choice are more likely to do the task. If the parent simply gives an ultimatum, the children will complain more.  Ideally, a discussion will occur where the parents explain the reason for the children taking part in the home.  They need to know that it is for their own good as well as to help the family. Chores appropriate to ability need to be selected by each child and a chart should be made to indicate when the child accomplishes the activity.  

Whenever possible, dad and mom need to work side by side with the children to demonstrate how chores are to be done. It is tempting to demand perfection on a child’s first try. The child needs time to master chores and should not be expected to excel right away. Dad or mom can demonstrate how to mop a floor, wash windows, vacuum, polish furniture, dust, or clean special items around the house.  Both boys and girls should be helping in the kitchen with food preparation and cleaning. 

Short or long vacation trips should be planned that will not only be fun, but will be educational.  State and national parks are wonderful places to take children. These trips really do a great deal to add to a child’s vocabulary and when certain events are studied in school, children can relate what they experienced to the reading in the textbook. When a child has a large vocabulary, that child is better able to comprehend what is being read.  Children automatically increase their vocabulary through experiences.

One often overlooked experience that children definitely need is that of church attendance.  How sad it is to realize that there are many children who have never attended a church service.  How can children understand how our constitution came about if they have no knowledge of spiritual beliefs?  How can they grow up to appreciate the reason for the forming of our country if they know nothing about the spiritual beliefs of others?  There are churches all around us and it costs no money to take children to see what happens in church.

It is so very important to keep children busy. If they aren’t kept busy with positive activities, they are left to contrive their own busy-ness, and that is often not a good thing.

A Good Mother Uses Time Wisely

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com)

Train up a child…

A Good Mother Uses Time Wisely

Whether we are rich, poor, handsome, short, tall, educated, or uneducated, we all have one thing in equal amounts.  That one thing is time.  We each have 24 hours in a day.  The way mothers use their time may determine whether they or their children become a success in life.  Mothers should try to stay busy, make their busy-ness count positively, and protect their time from being stolen by others who would pressure them to do things that are not productive for their family.

         The 31stchapter of the book of Proverbs in the Bible describes the “perfect” woman.  In the 27thverse of that chapter we read that a good woman “does not eat the bread of idleness”.  One result of modern day conveniences is that we have more time on our hands.  It is tempting to allow ourselves to be idle since we are not required to do as much physical work as our mothers had to do.  I have heard so many women say that they eat too much because they are bored. As a result, they then worry about being overweight.  

The Bible does not say that we stop being mothers when the children reach a certain age. Even if our children are grown and far away, we can still e-mail them or write words of encouragement, make gifts for them and their children, find appropriate books and information to help them, or do many other things to promote their well being.  We need to keep busy being a good mother no matter what the age of the children. Idleness truly does breed contempt.  An idle person is usually not a happy person. Physical exercise produces an enzyme that fights depression.  We need to stay as active as we can, doing productive activities. 

         It is important to choose activities that are beneficial to children. When mothers read to children, it is wise to choose books that not only entertain, but also teach good values. Some books and games have little value for children while others have great value.  Why waste time on something worthless when so much can be accomplished with worthwhile activities.  One of the very best ways to use time well is to allow children to assist with work. This provides time for bonding as well as teaching children how to care for the home. Children and parents can be side-by-side in work and play.

         There are many things that would steal our time.  Even good things can keep us from doing better things.  There may be good TV shows, but we need to ask ourselves whether they are actually worth the time they take by producing positive benefits. Many organizations plead for help from mothers and many of those organizations have worthwhile causes.  If we try to be helpful in too many of them or in too many ways to any one of them, we may be allowing them to steal time that would be better spent with our children. 

         Time passes far too quickly to waste it.  When our children are small, it may seem like forever until they grow up and are on their own.  Those of us who are older know that the time when they are home is so very short in relation to the time when they are away.  My husband and I were married fifty-five years and most of that time was spent together after the children  left home. That is true of many other couples as well. Mom, let’s make that short time count!  

Children Need to Respect Mom

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com)

Train up a child…

Children Need to Respect Mom

         For many mothers, Mother’s Day is the favorite holiday of the year.  It is so nice to be honored and hear the expressions of love and appreciation.  However, in many cases, mothers are not given the respect or honor they should receive not only on Mother’s Day but also during the remainder of the year.  

         In order for a mother to be respected, she must do some things to earn that respect, dad needs to encourage the children to respect their mother, and a family needs to attend a church where children are taught the importance of the family and the command to honor parents.

         Although we should each respect our mother whether the respect is earned or not, it is so much easier when the mother does and does not do certain things.  Mothers should have the well-being of the family in her mind and heart first after love for God.  A Godly woman is a woman who is filled with love as described in the 13thchapter of I Corinthians in the Bible.  She is patient with her children and understands each child is unique. She needs to do her best to see that the children are getting proper food and have a clean, orderly house to live in.  She needs to be an encourager.  Her speech should be gentle.  Mothers who use profanity and “street talk” have a hard time getting real respect from children.  

         Dad plays a big role in teaching children proper respect. He needs to set a good example for the children by showing respect to their mother.  In addition to setting the example, he needs to require the children to always speak respectfully and to listen to the mother.  Under no circumstances should he override the mother’s decision in the presence of the children.  To do so indicates that he does not believe that she is capable of making right decisions for them. Children quickly pick up on this attitude and they, too, decide that she is not capable of giving them advice.  If dad disagrees with mom, the issue should be settled between the two of them out of the presence of the children.  When men talk down to their wives in front of the children, the children get the impression that their mother is inferior. Mother’s Day presents an opportunity for dad to work with the children to remind them to do something to show their appreciation and love for their mother.  

         Families who do not attend church are robbing themselves of a great deal of help.  In church, the children are taught the Ten Commandments. They usually are required to memorize them.  One of the commandments tells us to honor our fathers and mothers.  This is not an option.  God holds us responsible to obey this commandment as well as the others.  It really helps to have someone outside the family teaching the children to act properly and to respect their parents. As I watch children in church recite Scripture, sing songs, and learn how to behave properly, I often feel sad to think how many children are missing out on these activities.  These activities, along with camp opportunities, enhance the learning they get at school and home. They get practice in memorizing and they learn Scripture verses about acting correctly which better prepares them for life.

         Although Mother’s Day comes only one time each year, we should teach children to love and respect their mothers at all times.  This positive behavior should become a pattern of behavior to last a lifetime.  

“Preventive Discipline”

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by Pat Lamb (www.patlambchristianauthor.com)

Train up a child…

“Preventive Discipline”

         We’ve all heard of preventive maintenance.  We check the roof of our house to make sure we replace it before we get leaks to cause greater damage.  We get regular oil changes for our cars to prevent engine damage, etc.  Why not do some preventive work with our children so we won’t have to discipline them later??

         What kind of preventive discipline can we do?  Believe it or not, one of the very best actions we can take is to teach children good manners.  Since the basis of all good manners is kindness and consideration of others, by teaching this, many future problems can be avoided.  

         Take, for instance, the fussing and arguing that so often occurs with youngsters.  If the child has been taught to be kind and considerate to others, he will not always demand his own way.  Instead, he will think of making the other person happy.  Don’t most arguments occur because someone wants his or her own way?  If that person has been taught to be kind and considerate of others, many arguments can be avoided.  

         Often, we adults are guilty of punishing a child for doing something wrong when the child has not previously been made to understand that that particular action was unacceptable. Children should have clear concepts of what is expected ahead of time else the punishment is really unfair.  We can prevent much discipline by taking the time to teach the child why or why not he should act a certain way.  Only then is it fair to punish a child for poor behavior.

         Another way to prevent the need for discipline is to control the environment of the child.  To some extent we can control situations and see that a child does not get put in a place where his weaknesses will undoubtedly lead to misbehavior.  This is especially true with very young children.  If you know two children are going to fight over a toy, take one child with you to do something else before he sees the toy.  As children grow older, become acquainted with families whose children will be a good influence on your children.  Control the child’s acquaintances.  My dad used to say, “One boy a whole boy, two boys a half boy, and three boys no boy at all”.

         A part of controlling a child’s environment includes choosing a good school and taking children to acceptable places of recreation.  We need to be involved in the social life of children.  Some might say, “Teens don’t want their parents around”. This may be true but they need parents whether they want them or not.  The flip side is that parents should try not to embarrass their children. However, our parenting does not end when children become teenagers.  In fact, I dare say, we are needed much more at this time.  It is so great to see teenagers who are not afraid to give mom and dad a hug and kiss in front of their friends!

         If we watch closely, we will find many ways to stop the need for discipline.  We will never get to the place where no discipline is needed, but we can certainly eliminate a great deal of it. Much of the time, we can guide and direct children in the way they should go without being harsh.

Plan a Meaningful Easter

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by Pat Lamb www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Plan a Meaningful Easter

         Easter is the most important holiday of the year.  Without Easter, Christmas would lose its importance.  For this reason, we should put much effort into making sure that children understand the real meaning of the time as well as enjoying the holiday to create a pleasant memory.

         Many would like to do away with the great amount of commercialism that accompanies Easter. Realistically, that isn’t likely to happen.  It would seem to me that the best way to deal with the commercialism is to adapt it to positive learning.  Egg hunts are fun.  Children who are not allowed to participate will probably resent it.  Why not simply tell the children that the eggs represent new life that we can find in Jesus.  We are promised in the Bible that if we seek, we can find that new life. Easter baskets can be explained as a way that parents show love to children by giving gifts just as God gave the best gift of all, his Son. I don’t know many children who are truly tricked into thinking that a rabbit brings an Easter basket.  In my opinion, it is best to tell the children that the Easter bunny is part of a game that adults like to play with children. Those who choose to purchase new clothes can tell children that we want to look our best for church and that the new clothes symbolize the new life we can find when we believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again, repent, and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. 

         What better time than Easter to teach John 3:16.  All children should know this verse that says, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.  In addition to teaching the verse, the family needs to attend the church of choice on Easter. Most churches have special services. There is no better way to teach children than through visual demonstration. Many churches provide thought-provoking drama that help all to understand Easter.

         It is sad to think that so many people in our country do not know the meaning of Easter.  When Tim Tebow wrote John 3:16 under his eyes while playing football, it was reported that approximately two million people googled the Internet to find out what it was.  Our children have a great deal to face in their adulthood.  Hopefully, we can make sure that those children with whom we personally come in contact will have the spiritual foundation they need to deal with the issues facing them. One way to help give children this needed spiritual foundation for the future is to make Easter meaningful.