Flourishing Families Surprising Tools for Successful Children


by Dave McVeety


I can’t count the number of times that my wife, Melissa, and I have been so caught up in our hectic lives that we’ve had to pause to ask each other whether the activities we have involved ourselves and our children in are actually benefitting our family — or are simply overwhelming us. So many of us worry about what our kids might “miss out on,”


so we sign them up for everything — VBS, Youth groups, sports teams, music lessons and more. We parents quickly turn into “taxi drivers.” We have no time to breathe or think until our kids are in bed. By keeping an overly busy pace of life, we risk stealing from our children what is most important for them. Our children are oſten missing out on two of the things that they need most to develop and mature:


The Record


Christian Fellowship Chapel, Winnipeg, Man. Harry Heinrichs (77), died July 10.


Cornerstone Bible Church, Mountain Lake, Minn. Hilda Marie Schmidt (92), retired missionary (wife of Art Schmidt), died July 3.


Cornerstone Bible Church, Steinbach, Man. Alice Helena, born to Jordan and Jessica Klassen, July 11.


Countryside Bible Church, Meade, Kan. Holly Harshberger, wed to Steven Westrup, July 16.


Britney Reimer, wed to Ransom Wentworth, July 23. Britney’s grandmother is Elizabeth Wiens.


Jennifer Payne, wed to Jaden Friesen, son of Lyle and Peggy Friesen, Aug. 13. Jaden’s grandparents are Elizabeth Wiens and Al and Mary Friesen.


22 Fellowship Focus, September/October 2016


Crosspoint Bible Church, Omaha, Neb. Megan Jazmin, born to Tomas and Jazmin Jones, June 15.


Elise Madelyn, born to Ben and Lauren Young, July 1.


Olivia Lovgren, daughter of Bill and Melanie Lovgren, wed to Joseph McKernan, June10.


Dalmeny Bible Church, Dalmeny, Sask. Rosella Buhr, wed to Victor Patton, July 30.


Grunthal EMB Church, Grunthal, Man. Cornelius (Corny) Bergen (96), died July 10.


Jansen Bible Church, Jansen, Neb. Jenna Schultis, daughter of Greg and Melissa Schultis, wed to Brad Furby, June 18.


Vanessa Johnson, wed to Kyle Carpenter, son of Paul and Carol Carpenter, July 2.


Brittany Porter, daughter of Jeff and Nicky Porter, wed to Jesse Broomfield, July 9.


Amelia Hegle, wed to Curt Rempel, son of Don and Nancy Rempel, on Aug. 6.


Northwest Bible Church, Calgary, Alta. Zoe, born to Esosa Osagiede and Maryjane Ogbomo, May 18.


Salem Church, Waldheim, Sask. Livia River, born to Quint and Stephanie Kyler, July 14. Grandparents are Bob and Sherry Willems.


Jenelle Cecil, daughter of Greg and Vicki Cecil, wed to Joel Heppner, son of Murray and Wendy Heppner, June 5.


Vita Bible Church, Vita, MB. Bethany Rempel, daughter of Dan and Lotti Rempel, wed to Keith Wiebe, son of Tim and Renate Wiebe, July 16.


FellowshipForward.org


Boredom As a child, I remember feeling bored and wondering if some-


thing was wrong if I felt this way. Now I actually miss and envy those times when things are slow enough for me to rest my mind and have nothing to do or think about. It leaves space for me to get to know myself and to allow God to speak to me. God’s presence is so oſten found in silence, but we don’t allow ourselves enough of it. We need to teach and model this to our kids so that they learn


to appreciate the quiet and slow moments of life. I’ve actually started telling my kids how excited I am when they come to me complaining that they are “bored.” Boredom is opportunity — opportunity to be creative, to rest our minds, or better yet, to spend time with God.


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