Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

Illustration texts

A Child Learns What He Lives

?If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a hild lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.? (By D.L. Nolte)

Latchkey Children

?Youngsters who look after themselves after school for 11 or more hours a week on a regluar basis are twice as likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco and marijuana as children who aren?t ?latchkey kids?.? (According to Sept. ?89 issue of Pediatrics, based on study of c. 5,000 8th graders in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas. The result held, whether families were affluent or poor, two-parent or single-parent, regardless of extracurricular activities, social influence or stress.) (Reported in Atlanta Journal, 9/89) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Ruth Graham Gets Discouraged

Sometimes Satan discourages us parents by convincing us that truly spiritual people would never have the problems with their children that we do. But listen to this mother?s experience, and see if you can sometimes relate: ?I feel this A.M. it?s gotten quite beyond me. They fight, they yell, they answer back. Breakfast is dreadful. Franklin woke me at 4:15 thinking it was time to get up?.And when I did get up at 6:15, so did Anne and Franklin, and fought during the time I have with the Lord alone. Now they?ve gone off to school looking nice enough (for once) and with a good breakfast but with the scrappiest of family prayers. Only a longer blessing and their last two weeks? Bible verses yelled each above the other. Grumbling, interrupting, slurring one another, impudent to me. So now they?re off, I?m in bed with my Bible thinking it through ? or rather, trying to.? An example of a carnal, immature mother? Hardly. This came from an entry into Ruth Graham?s (Billy Graham's wife) journal. (Just As I Am, p. 704)

Riley Doesn't Force It

You?d think that Pat Riley, arguably the greatest basketball coach on the planet, would have his children shooting hoops from their earliest years. But speaking of his 11 year old son, he says, ?I teach, but I?m not going to become oppressive. My son couldn?t care less about sports. He?s a pianist and a computer fanatic, and he likes to sail. That?s o.k. He doesn?t want to hit anything, bounce anything, chase anything. Don?t force it down their throats. Invite them to it, but don?t demand it.? (Robb Report, Summer of '98, p. 82)

Teens And Fathers

When teenagers were asked to describe their relationships with their fathers, the majority of daughters described them as distant, uncomfortable, withdrawn. Sons most frequently reported that their fathers were judgmental, withdrawn, insensitive, careful about what they said, serious, uncomfortable, criticized, unwanted, and distant. Rarely were sons or daughters likely to be playful, relaxed, open, or to feel loved and accepted when around their fathers. The study concluded that, in comparison with other important persons in their lives, teenagers feel most distant from their fathers. [James Youniss and Jacqueline Smollar, Adolescent Relations with Mothers, Fathers, and Friends (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985), 49ff., 68ff., 87. Quoted from Understanding Youth Culture, by Walt Mueller.]

Survey: Risks of "Hands-Off" Parents

While the bible speaks of training a child in the way he should go and taking an active role in parenting, many parents have opted for a "hands-off" approach. A recent survey shows this approach to put children at risk for dangerous behaviors. The sixth annual teen survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University finds that "Hands-Off" parents double the risk that their teens will smoke, drink alcohol or use illegal drugs. To be a "Hands-On" parent they suggest that at least 10 of the following 12 must be true: 1) Monitor what your child watches on TV. 2) Monitor their use of the Internet. 3) Put restrictions on CD's they buy. 4) Know where your children are after school and during weekends. 5) Be told the truth about your teenagers whereabouts. 6) Be aware of your child's academic performance. 7) Impose a curfew. 8) Make it clear that you would be "extremely upset" if your teen used alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. 9) Eat dinner with your teen six or seven nights a week. 10) Turn the TV off during dinner. 11) Assign regular chores for your teen. 12) Have an adult present when the teen comes home from school.

Wilmot on Childrearing

Before I married, I had three theories about raising children and no children. Now, I have three children and no theories. --John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester

Teach Everything in the World

G.K. Chesterton, British author and essayist, asked a poignant question, made more so by the reality of life late in the twentieth century. He wondered why any woman would choose to leave the home in order to do the same thing over and over when she had the opportunity to stay home and teach everything in the world to one person. (Joe Griffith, Speaker's Library of Business Quotes)

Main Reason for Children's Parties

The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

Purpose of Middle Names

The sole purpose of a child's middle name, is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.

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