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Communication FUNdamentals
Oct. 12, 2006
The Bible if written by college students...
- Last Supper would have been eaten the next morning - cold.
- The Ten Commandments are actually only five, double-spaced, and written in a large font.
- Instead
of God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, He
would have put it off until the night before it was due and then pulled
an all-nighter.
These are silly but, believe it or not, this does bring up ...a communication issue. (I know...you're shocked!)
Issue Thursday:
The Issue: Are we teaching our students to do their best? And what does that communicate to them and to others?
When I took my dd out of private school to homeschool her that first
year, this was a big issue for us. You see, my dd is very
bright. She grasped the concept in school very quickly. She
didn't need to study in order to get good grades. She often put
off til tomorrow what she could slap together last minute! I
remember one day she was working on a report. She was just doing
the research. It was 6pm. It was due tomorrow! I
asked her...
"How long have you known about this report."
"Two weeks!"
"And you are just starting it NOW?"
"I'll get an 'A'!"
"After slapping it together for at total of two hours?!"
"Yeah."
My dh and I eagerly awaited her grade. She wasn't doing her best
work. She didn't learn anything by this exercise! She
should get a poor grade. It will teach her to do her best.
What was her grade? An "A"! I asked her about it and she
said something like..."They know I'm smart. I already did a
report on this a few years ago."
When I brought her
home, I was determined to teach her that the Lord wants us to do our
best no matter what you do. Give the Lord your best.
However, in our microwave society, where folks can't wait endless
seconds for email, we are a very impatient and lazy lot! I
remember my fellow college students sitting in their car franticly
scribbling the last bit of their essay before their next class so they
can turn it in! I recall students sitting on the floor in front
of their class 5 minutes before the midterm studying bleary eyed from
being up all night...AT A PARTY!
What does this
communicate to others? What does this communicate to God?
The Lord wants us to give our all to whatever we are doing.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." -1 Cor 10:31
When I began homeschooling, I started a star chart. She got a
star for each time she did her best. Two: if she went above and
beyond the assignment! I had her look up 1 Corinthians 10:31 and
explain it to me. We discussed Cain and Abel and why God was
pleased with Abel's offerings and not as much with Cain's.
Today, my dd gives everything her all! She goes beyond what is
expected and gives her best work. She thinks beyond the
moment. You know what? That says a lot about her to her
peers. It speaks volumes to her elders. It will carry her
far in college, as a lawyer and it will communicate a good example of
a Christian to the world.
Are we preparing our
children to do their best or are we allowing them to settle? And
what does that communicate to others?
Something to think on...
From JoJo's Purple Crayon... It isn't enough to KNOW God's Word...
We must be able to ARTICULATE it!
Talk is cheap. Effective communication skills are priceless!
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Oct. 15, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Sally