Raising Kids: Looking Back On Another School Year

As we approach the end of the school year and the beginning of summer break, it's time for a recap. I think we can all agree that time flies. If you pause for a moment, you can think of all the ways this school run could have gone wrong. Sometimes things did go wrong. But look at your family — you've come this far. A year has just gone by, and through all the chaos of the school run, you were the buffer they could fall back on.

There were countless pieces of advice, warnings, affirmations, songs — so much happening inside that car. One line I still don't know where I got from: "You don't have to be perfect, but you don't have to be foolish either."

Coming from Mumbai, where there was constant juggling, constant noise, and a constant pressure to prove yourself, I grew up believing that if we weren't doing something, we were being less productive. This is where remembering the first four commandments really helps set our priorities right — our duty toward God, making that vertical relationship right before we turn to the horizontal.

There were days I could feel the anxiety in my kids' breathing. Will I make it? What if I don't?One of them once said, "I prayed so hard for this, and I still didn't get it."

There was an illustration I had her do at home. I asked her to flip a coin — many times. Both girls took turns and did it. Then I had them set the coin down and command it to flip on its own. They shouted and tried, but of course nothing happened. That's when I explained: all you can do is flip the coin. Once it's in the air, it's God who determines how it lands — a picture of His sovereign control.

For our children to understand the peace that comes from above, we as parents need to model it ourselves. Psalm 16:5-6 puts it beautifully:

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Redefine success in your home. Do the hard thing first. I'm reminded of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus gave him one hard thing to do, and he found it too difficult — so he walked away.

What's the hard thing in your life? Obedience? Practising stillness? Overthinking everything? Trusting the Lord, submitting the work of our hands to Him, and daily obeying His word — that is the success we need to instil in our homes.

This summer, as you take your family out to enjoy all that's out there, remember Psalm 19. Scripture tells us that creation is speaking — the question is, are we listening? Take the time to hear from God through His Word.

Meet the Author

Gini is a guest writer who shares thoughtful reflections on the gospel and its connection to everyday life. Learn more about the author and see what else they've written.

Credits: Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version (ESV), and photos are via Unsplash.