It’s graduation season!  There are preschoolers graduating to Kindergarten, Kindergartners to Elementary School, Elementary to Middle School, Middle Schoolers to High School and so on.

All graduations, to varying degrees, have commencement addresses.  These speeches are designed to impart wisdom and encourage students as they move to the next chapter in life. There is one commencement address that has really resonated with our family.  It has a simple message which is as applicable to the college graduate as to the preschool graduate!  And in this season of extended home time, it is especially meaningful!

Please take a minute to watch this video segment from Admiral McRaven, Commander of Special Operations (Navy Seals), as he addresses the graduating class at the University of Texas.

 

For us, there are many takeaways from this video including discipline and self-control.  But there are two significant takeaways that reinforce pivotal ideas that we’ve taught our boys and applied to our marriage and lives.

Little Things Do Matter

Perhaps Admiral McRavens had Luke 16:10 in mind when he mentions that little things turn into big things:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.

But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

We allowed our children more freedoms and responsibilities as they demonstrated that they could do the little things well.  The difference between good and great in the classroom, at a recital, or on the athletic field is doing the little things well.  Therefore, it stands to reason that being intentional with the little things – in our marriages, parenting and life in general – has big implications for our overall fulfillment in life and for our children’s outcomes as well.

Picking up your toys, practicing or studying a little more, helping in the kitchen, serving in the community and making your bed matters.  These are all “little” things that have significant corollary benefits that lead to “big” things.  How else do we learn self-discipline, self-control, empathy and to not be self-centered?  It’s by doing the little things like making your bed… every day!

Actions Precede Beliefs

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit;

sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

The origin of this quote is in question and has been attributed to many different people over the years – Alistair Begg, Stephen Covey, Charles Reade to name a few.  Regardless of the author, the truth in the message is inspired.  And yes, making your bed can affect your character and destiny.

In parenting, we focus on teaching our children to do certain actions before they even begin to understand and believe, in their hearts, the virtue of the action.  A six year old may think properly greeting people is “the most painful thing in the world!”  But later, he’ll come to believe that a proper greeting demonstrates virtues of the heart like courtesy, honor, respect, kindness, and love.  By consistently demonstrating these virtues in this simple act (making them habits), he will begin to define his character and his character will define his future – whom he will marry, how he will parent, and grow personally.

Both of our sons graduated from college in the last two years and the lessons of “making their beds” has served them well as they launch their careers and continue into adulthood.  They understand that being intentional and consistent, connected with self-control and discipline, can help them reach their potential in so many areas of life.   It is a pathway toward success and fulfilment… and it can begin with simply making your bed every day!

Blessings to Your Family,

Shelly and Rich

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Summer Parenting Workshop Series, Class & Marriage Assessment/Checkup

Information and Registration is now available for all of our Summer Programs!

 

Learn More at: https://onefamilyhwl.org/events/

Online Parenting from The Tree of Life

Starting 6/7, Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00pm MT (6:00pm PT, 8:00pm CT, 9:00pm ET)

For parents of children ages 5 to 12, this intensive course provides insight and practical application focused on helping parents to achieve healthy outcomes with an intentional parenting strategy!

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Summer Parenting Workshop Series

Sundays 7:00-8:00pm MT – (6:00pm PT, 8:00pm CT, 9:00pm ET)
Each workshop is 2 sessions per month – 1 hr per session

If you need to miss a session (i.e. vacation), all workshops will be recorded and available to view via our private OneFamily YouTube Channel.

  • 6/11 & 18 – Parenting Your Child’s Temperament – Exploring the differing personality dynamics between parent & child – includes temperament assessment.
  • 7/9 & 16 – Screens and Parenting in the Digital Age – Gain understanding of the neurological/behavioral aspects of Screens and examine some ideas to help parents develop a strategy for recreational screen time – Toddler through Teen!
  • 8/6 & 13 – Conveying Sexual Knowledge to Your Children – Discover how to approach conveying sexual knowledge to your children as soon as 6 years of age and through the tweens.  This is a great introduction to our Protecting the Innocence of Childhood class.