Faith & Insight: Spiritual growth and meaningful connections

School is back in season. For my son, this is his final year of high school. Through all the years, he has had some fantastic teachers, counselors, and coaches who have helped shape him into the wonderful person he has become. We are grateful for each of them. Still, as parents, we know God has tasked us with raising our children to be strong people of faith.

For that reason, returning to school is always challenging. However, for families of faith, the transition provides great opportunities to ingrain daily routines with our religious values and teachings. It is the role of the parent to encourage and support their children as they return to school in such a way that it nurtures their Christian faith and helps them grow into maturity. Parents can do a few important things to ensure their kids take their faith values to school.

First, parents can use the school routine to demonstrate to their children the importance of prayer in preparing our hearts and minds for learning.

Teaching children to start the day with prayer and asking for God's guidance is an important routine that will impact their lives well past their school years. It can be done by adding a daily devotional or scripture reading to the family's morning practice. Of course, there may be some grumbling or eye-rolling on the part of the child, especially the teenagers, but it will have a lasting impact on their lives.

In addition, returning to school can provide an excellent opportunity for children to share God's love through kindness toward their classmates. In the classroom, children will encounter a wide variety of personalities.

They will likely experience conflict with their classmates at some point. Parents can use these opportunities to teach their children the principles of forgiveness and compassion. As Paul writes, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." These great opportunities demonstrate to children that forgiveness comes as a response to the forgiveness we experience through Christ.

Finally, returning to school allows the children to participate in activities in which they can showcase their faith. The schools offer many different clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. Even if these activities are not faith-based, parents can use them to teach children the importance of doing everything for the glory of Christ. They will learn the importance of maintaining integrity, humility, and sportsmanship while striving to excel in these activities. Encouraging your children to be involved helps them to showcase their faith, perhaps for the first time, apart from their home or local church.

Parents must take responsibility for their children. They must ensure that as their child returns to the classroom, they carry with them the teachings of Christ and the same values they have at home. By weaving Christian values into your child's daily routines, you can create a school year filled with spiritual growth and meaningful connections. Your child will be empowered to let their light shine within their schools.

Micheal Hurlbert is associate pastor at First Christian Church.