Building Alliances
In one of our schools, we made a street with a round-trip track that surrounds some of those big plastic toys.
For a parent meeting, I was visiting this unit in the evening and came across some beautiful (and well made) parked cars and trucks, neatly made out of cardboard by the parents of the small students, for a traffic education activity that would take place the next day.
At the moment I thought of the pleasure and joy that both parents and children were feeling: one making the cars and the other playing and learning with something made by their parents.
Seeing that, I remembered that a little over 20 years ago I was unemployed and had no money to buy presents for my twin sons…I had no doubts: I got some cardboard and Styrofoam…I took the two tricycles they had and turned them into two beautiful airplanes, with wings and tails. On the street at home (where no cars go) I drew a runway on the ground and we played all afternoon.
This is how I see commemorative dates as Children’s Day (in Brazil, October 12nd): a great opportunity to celebrate the fact that we have been children… with the children we live with today, whether our children, other people’s children, needy children… children…
It is true that these commemorative dates such as Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Children’s Day, and others were created with the intention of boosting sales and business, but they are excellent moments to remember the roles of these characters in our lives, whatever our position may be (if fathers or mothers…if children, etc.).
In the Bible we see Jesus calling the children to himself and using this moment to teach adults how to behave with regard to the Kingdom of God:” Then Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like them.” Mt 19:14 NIV
That is why it is important that schools are committed and ALLIED and commissioned by families to build healthy and wholesome children, for in this way they will certainly promote such opportunities for parents, guardians, and their children to have experiences like these.
For their part, parents or guardians should use these opportunities to strengthen their ALLIANCE with their children.
But are we, for our part, making sure that today’s children, who are used to a “touch” life, to ready-made answers, to video games, have this experience with us?
If the children are not having the opportunity to have this interaction…how can they learn from God through the children we once were?
Today I challenge you to give to a child the child you once were, plus the child GOD made you become before Him.
Let’s try! HAVE FUN!
Mario Barbosa – Executive Director of the Renovo Institute
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