This is a posting from a year ago.  I have gotten a lot of comments from friends on this so I thought I would post it again as a committment to start it again this fall.

family ties 2006

As Moody is back in the swing of things, I thought I'd try something new this year in regards to what I wear each day.  The dresscode at Moody doesn't require ties (no matter WHAT you may have heard), but I'm wearing one each day anyway (of course this means that Pamela is spending more time ironing for me so that I have pressed shirts to wear with these ties--see her recent blog on this point--and for her service I am TRULY grateful). 

Before you think I'm making unnecessary work for my wife, let me tell you why I am wearing a tie everyday.  Each morning, as I get dressed, I have one of the kids choose which tie I will wear that day so that throughout the day, I'll remember to pray for that particular child.  So...

• While I'm eating lunch and trying to keep my tie out of the vegetarian stir-fry, I think to pray that God would keep Elliot out of evil.
  
• While I am lecturing and my tie gets stuck in my lecture notebook, I pray that God would teach Alesa humilty.
  
• While I walk across the plaza, and the wind nearly hangs me with my necktie, I am reminded to pray that God would keep Robin from the winds of the world.

And in case you're keeping score at home, I also pray for the one keeping my shirts pressed, that God's Spirit would rest on her in the midst of her day as she's "being pressed on every side."

It has really helped keep my heart turned toward home, even in the midst of busy, hectic and discouraging days, to know that tomorrow is a new day, with a new shirt and a new tie.