August 18, 1999
FAMILY MATTERS:
A new school year brings fear & anxiety
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The summer months have almost allowed me to forget the fears I felt this past school year. Acts of violence and abuse throughout our nation caused me to wait anxiously for my children to return from school each day. That anxiety has returned now that school is beginning. I don't want to transfer my fears to my children, nor do I want to be paralyzed by them. What advice can you give?
KAY TOWERS
Program Coordinator
LifeWay Fellowship
Killeen
_The rising rate of violence and abuse certainly gives cause for concern.
___Do not feel guilty about the love you have for your children and your care for their welfare. It is an appropriate desire to have some assurance that your children will be safe at school. You want them to have happy and productive experiences. Wanting the best for your children is commendable. While you cannot physically put them in a protective shelter, you can entrust them to One who can.
___You are wise to recognize fear and worry can paralyze. Remember, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity (fear), but of power and love and discipline" (2 Timothy 2:7). He promises, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God" (Isaiah 41:10). The Psalmist declares, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4).
___Let the Lord help you with your fears.
___As you pray about your attitude, continue praying for your children. Don't forget to include their teachers and peers. Pray for them at specific times during the day when they may be subject to the very things that concern you. One resource you may find helpful in praying for your children is "A Mother's Garden of Prayer: Cultivating a Lifestyle of Praying for Your Children," by Sarah Maddox and Patricia Webb, published by Broadman & Holman.
___Another important step to consider is a visit to your children's school and a talk with the administrators and teachers. Find out what they have planned for your children's safety. Let them know of your support. Seek ways to be involved in your children's school experiences.
___Concern can paralyze, but it also has the potential to drive us to the Lord for wisdom and support. "Cast all your anxieties upon him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
___Send questions to Family Matters, P.O. Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267.
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