We Need You!: A Letter to Our Kids

To the kids of yesterday, today, and tomorrow,
The biggest thing I want you to remember is this: I am so glad you are here! You have more value than you will ever know! You are indeed LOVED beyond anything you can comprehend! You are needed and wanted in this world!
Another big message I want you to remember: The progression of Technology is not your fault. You were simply born in the technology age. Your parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, were alive to watch the crazy fast progress of the digital and media world, but you were born into the already rapidly growing tech age. You are the beginning of something very new, but the generation into which you were born does not: 1. define you, 2. measure your worth, 3. determine the impact and direction you can take in this world. We need you!
Let me make this one thing clear, boys and girls, men and women, are created equal. We all matter. What do I mean by equal? We all have a right to life, to discover our strengths and weaknesses, which will differ for everyone, but will differ the most between boys/men and girls/women. These are woven in us by God, at the moment we begin. He distinctively gives each of us strengths, and each of us weakness, so that we can help one another be a community. When we degrade one another for the advancement of another gender/race/etc, this only creates a greater divide. Live a life that shows that all lives matter. Live in community, we need you!
Your value does not come by achievements, job, economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, or culture, etc. Yes, school, Kindergarten through 12th grade are required for the majority of life after high school. But after high school, if your desire is to go straight into the working world, go for it! If you would like to learn a trade, awesome! There will always be a need for these jobs! If you desire to do something that requires more training and school, go for it! But one of these is not better than the other. And none of them determine your value or worth. We need you!
You talents and gifts are of great importance! And you have them! Finding your talents and discovering your gifts with and without technology, are of equal importance. Learn to use these talents and gifts to create an impact and influence on your world! We need you!
We need to hear your ideas about the world, about culture, about what you are learning, what your hopes and desires are, your fears and concerns are. We want you to ask questions, and find the answers together. We need you!
We need your help! Now, you are not responsible for teaching us every little thing about this new world of technology, because it is not your role, you role is to be a kid. But we appreciate a little help every now and again. We need you!
We need you and you need us. We need to provide you with the proper protection, age appropriate boundaries, teach you about accountability. We need to teach you about your rights to privacy- appropriate things to share, and things that should only be shared with a trusted adult. We need to provide safety and give you the tools to equip you to be safe. Because we need you! We want you! We believe in you! We love you!

A Word to Adults:
Over the last month being low on energy, I've been catching up on some reading. And also watching the Murdaugh trial, some other true crime shows, (I admit the brain is fascinating to me-for many reasons-but mostly because of Mental health), and also Outer Banks (I try to stay up to date on what my younger friends are watching). I have observed and made notes of some red flag concerns that we need to be aware of as kid-loving adults. Here are just a few:
- There is a major mental health crisis in our schools, and that is Kids are not wanting to go to school because of safety. Due to guns, violence, fights, verbal/mental/physical/emotional abuse, social media bullying, etc. There is a rise in anxiety, depression, PTSD. If this isn't a red flag for mental health, we have failed.
- Allowing lies, using manipulation, neglecting responsibility - as a consistent pattern, can be fatal.
- Holding gun/weapon owners accountable to safe storage is obviously becoming fatal and a critical situation. Where is the responsibility? Surely we aren't putting the responsibility on 5-year-olds!
- When the accountability with a loving and safe adult is not present and aware of potential influencers, the overwhelming evidence is that they are looking to the influence of friends, tv, movies, YouTube, media of overflowing information with both truths and lies.

What can we do?
Well, I have some ideas. While I was "down," I struggled with the common human battle of needing to DO something, but I physically couldn't 90% of the time. I just had to lay or sit and be still, and cry out the name of Jesus A LOT! But I realized that if I am feeling the do-do-do battle, but God is obviously saying "slow down, be still, I've got this!" And I am a homebody and I don't naturally have a go-go-go personality, just always have to be doing something with my hands. Then, how do kids, growing up in this hyper fast paced world feel when a pause comes? What will happen when this happens and they are adults and are not equipped to be "bored?"
So with all the above in mind, let me encourage you with some simple, reasonable expectations, responsibilities, boundaries, accountability to equip our kids to become well-prepared adults:
- Share your life. Allow them to go along side you.
- Teach when the moments come.
- Strive to have more conversations than confrontations. Be proactive!
- When we are talking to each other, put down your device, book, controller, etc.
- If you open it, you close it.
- If you get it dirty, you clean it.
- If you take it out, you put it back.
- If you lie, I will find out.
- If you did it, you will accept the consequences.
- If you know it's wrong, don't do it.
- If you mess up, just fess up!
- If you are moody, that is an okay emotion, but don't be mean.
- If you are grateful, I'm nicer.
- If you are respectful, life will be better for you.
- If you are responsible, you get my trust, and reasonable, age appropriate freedoms.
Give them time to be bored, which was a word we did not say growing up because it meant we would be given a chore we didn't want to do. So I am not saying let them say they are bored, I am saying allow for "tech free time" for yourself too! Suggestions: pen and paper- journal or draw, play a game, ask questions, would you rather, just talk, take a nap. Try a little bit at a time.
Below I have added some links to some resources that I have found helpful.

I currently am not on Facebook, so the following accounts are Instagram accounts/websites that I encourage you to look into:

@protectyoungeyes – @defendyoungminds – @smithandchrispodcast – www.defendyoungminds.com – Get the app!!
@commonsenseorg – https://www.commonsensemedia.org – Highly recommend the membership!
@dwelldifferently – https://dwelldifferently.com – Memorizing Scripture as a family! I love doing this! Three generations in our family do this together!
@childmindinstitute – https://childmind.org – Recommend getting their newsletter!
@raisingprayerfulkids – https://www.raisingprayerfulkids.com – Recommend getting their newsletter
@migraineatschool – https://www.migraineatschool.org – if you have a child who suffers from migraines-PLEASE check this out! They can now meet the requirements for a 504!!!
@grant_diamond – If you love someone who loves “gaming,” highly recommend following this guy! I heard him speak a few weeks ago (https://www.youtube.com/live/djMMObFpBUs?feature=share). I started following him on instagram and as much as I don’t really understand the world of gaming, my heart desires to know more and I am encouraged that there are people like Grant that have made it their mission to reach this population, that most of the time get reduced to nothing, when in reality they are just as human as you and I. We ALL need Jesus. Period.

Lighthouse Voices New Landing Page

Lighthouse Voices: I haven’t watched all of these, but I highly recommend: “Securing Children’s Hearts” by Kathy Koch, and “Stop Failing Young Men” by Dr. Anthony Bradley. And the one coming up on March 7th, will be by Ryan Bomberger “Beauty of Possibility”- I have followed Ryan for several years, Radiance Foundation, I am sure it will be great!

Life Books of the Week: