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“A Woman’s View” covers a wide range of topics, usually about living and making the most of each day. I’ve published numerous articles, plus several books on family life and Bible studies with Concordia Publishing House. I’m a lifelong Christian and want to always offer encouragement to readers.

Many of us aren't sure about the answer. 

You know the kind of questions I mean.

"Okay, if there really is a God, why would I think he cares about me?"

"From what I know of God, he is more about Dos and Don'ts than about caring for ordinary people like me."

"Don't talk to me about God. Not when innocent people get shot while walking down the street or riding their bikes. Not with little kids getting abused and the world at risk because of climate change."

"You say God is good and he's all about love. Well, how can a good God allow all this bad stuff to go on and on? Sorry, that makes no sense to me."

"Listen, I depend on myself and I know very well I can count on myself, so why do I need God?" 

And then there's the fear that stalks us  

It's not so much an outright terror. It's more a low-level anxiety that sneaks out around the edges of our lives and whispers What Ifs? at 2 a.m. 

We're never too old or too young to be tormented by this unwelcome visitor. 

"I live in fear my cancer will come back," one woman says to another.  "I never sleep soundly now. And I panic every time I have to go for another round of blood tests or I have a new twinge. I am so afraid they'll find some new cancer. Then what will I do?"

A middle-schooler whispers to a buddy, "I hear my mom and dad fighting after I go to bed. If they get a divorce I'll have to live with one or the other. Where will that be? Will I be able to stay in my same school?"

"I can't keep up with the tech skills of recent grads," says the frowning fifty-something. "If I lose this job I don't know where I can find another one that will pay the bills." 

And so it goes. Life is messy and life is scary.

Especially when we try to get through each day on our own strength and live by our own smarts.

The Bible makes it clear: We are never alone

Is God for us? 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea . . .  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.   –Psalm 46:1-2, 11  ESV

Is God with us?

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  –John 14:23  ESV

Does God love us even when we fail, even when we mess up?

But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love …  –Nehemiah 9:17b  ESV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16  ESV

How can we know this is true?

But God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  –Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  –1 John 4:16

Jesus came. For you. For me. To be our Savior and to set us right with God. 

Jesus came to be our Friend. Our best Friend, who will never, ever leave us on our own.

Because Jesus came all of us who believe in him as our Savior now live in the smile of God. His forever smile.

Be at peace, my friend, and let yourself feel His joy!

Lenore

Suppose your child came home from school and asked you that question.

That could happen if you were the mom or dad of a student at Redwood Heights Elementary in Oakland, CA.

Why should you care?

What happened there–or a variation of same–is coming your way soon.

Here's the background, taken from Web and newspaper accounts. Last May 23rd and 24th, kids in all grades of Redwood Heights School were grouped by age, then instructed by Gender Spectrum trainer, Joel Baum. He told students, "It turns out there are not just two (gender) options."

Kindergartners learned about colors, toys and activities. Older students were taught what gender means and how it's expressed in different cultures.

Baum explained individuals can be more than one gender and have more than one set of sexual organs. He cited male sea horses, who can produce and care for offspring all by themselves. Youngsters were given information cards picturing single-sex geckos and "transgender" clown fish.

Chalk it up to "diversity training," part of the School's anti-bullying campaign..

California schools must institute a specific plan for diversity instruction and against bullying. Redwood Heights lessons were developed by Gender Spectrum, a San Leandro, CA, non-profit, and paid for by a $1500 grant from the California Teachers Union.

Parents could not opt their children out of these classes. (California state law permits that only for sex education classes.) Three Redwood Heights parents kept their kids home on the day(s) of the training.

(Note: I combed numerous Internet articles. A FoxNews.com reporter sat in on classes, which enabled the quotes. The Associated Press also contributed to their article.)

Wait, there's more

Since Governor Brown signed SB 48 into law on July 14, 2011, California textbooks will have to change. This will affect all textbooks in all places, since publishers tailor their materials to their largest purchaser: California.

The "Fair Education Act" mandates that governing boards must adopt textbooks and teaching materials which "accurately portray the role and contribution" of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons to the State and the Nation and that do not reflect negatively upon LGBT individuals. Instruction or school-sponsored activities that could reflect adversely upon LGBT individuals also are forbidden.

Existing law prohibitiing discrimination in any aspect covers charter and alternative schools. How this may affect home schoolers is not addressed.

This law affects the State Education code, too, which now replaces the word “sex” with “gender.” "Gender" now includes a person's gender identity and gender expression. "Gender expression" means "a person's gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth."

That means . . .

Whether a person checks "Male" or "Female" is a matter of choice, not body parts.

Inevitably, what's taught in schools affects our communities and our society, now or in awhile.

Are we paying attention? Are we letting our voices be heard?

Remember that family still trumps the school

As parents, you need not quake in fear, but you do need to be watchful.

You and I also need to be clear what we think about all this. Otherwise, we simply add to the bewilderment children and teens already feel. They'll need to be strong and clear-thinking if they're to withstand the constant drip-drip-drip of remarks and theories that probably contradict what your family stands for.

That makes it vital they understand who they are and know sound principles for living. If you're a Christian, you'll want them to be sure what the Bible teaches. You'll want to read verses together and talk about them. Let them voice their doubts and confusion. Reassure them.

Ground your kids with the Truth

There's no question cruelty, bullying, name-calling and intolerance are wrong. Christians have believed that from the beginning. No doubt you already stressed that with your children. What you'll do now is clarify and help them be sure what God says.

Here are two foundational verses to reinforce their sense of self:

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them –Genesis 1:27

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. –Psalm 139:13-14

Be involved in your child's school and talk with the teacher(s.) Be reasonable and kind. You can be supportive without backing down on what you believe. If you wonder what you have to say to your children, remind yourself of the crucial issue:

If you don't talk about these sticky issues with your kids, they will only have what they hear in the classroom, on the playground and from the media to draw on.

Most of all, don't despair. God can use us, even when our knees are knocking.

Sorry this ran so long,

Lenore

Have you ever lived around sheep? We have, when we farmed in central Illinois, but not with about 2,000 at a time. Who woulda thunk we'd be here, looking out on a sea of suburban roofs in northern California where suddenly, sheep and goats rate as Conversational Topic #1.

A friend shot these scenes across the road. The flock spent the past week or so happily chomping away on this year's early crop of grass and weeds that cover the city-owned open space surrounding our community.

The number of animals in the flock keep changing because, well, it's spring, you know, and baby lambs and goats keep appearing.

These past few years several communities around us have contracted with owners of flocks like this to bring in their sheep and goats to graze what otherwise would have to be mowed. Shepherds then put up temporary fencing before bringing in their animals, along with a few well-trained dogs who keep the flock in line. Someone stays on-site all the time, moving the fencing when the sheep and goats have the vegetation eaten down in an area.

Early tomorrow morning the police are shutting down the main street that divides our community. Then we'll have the Great Sheep Drive, with probably most of our community there to watch. Picture crowds of fascinated city-dwellers standing there entranced as the flock moves down the city street and comes over to our side. No cowboys on horseback. Just the shepherds, their whistles and their dogs, now as in Bible times.

Then we'll be looking out at a scene somewhat like this. Probably some residents have never been so close to a sheep or a goat.

Back on our Midwestern farm we didn't have wild turkeys parading out back several times a day, or deer, or hawks nesting in our trees and soaring overhead. Never heard a coyote, either, or owls hooting in the night.

Perhaps it's the novelty, perhaps it's the charm of it, but nobody's complaining about being invaded by these itinerant shepherds and their flock.

And imagine, these peaceful creatures captured our community without firing a shot.

Well, that's the peaceful news from the city.

Blessings,

Lenore

    Along with education for life, instilling self-esteem ranks high on the list of many parents.That sounds like a noble goal, but it's easy to get carried away with it.

    Perhaps, like me, you've heard some parents exclaim, with pride and even awe, "This generation knows so much more than mine ever did!"

    Others frequently tell their child, "You're so smart!" 

    (Hmmm. From the child's point-of-view, why should this Einstein kid listen to an "inferior" parent?)

    Even adults have difficulty staying balanced when they're constantly the center of attention.  Why be surprised if a child begins to think the world revolves around him or her? 

    To be effective and productive even the brightest individuals need self-understanding and self-discipline. Developing those qualities takes awhile, for all of us. The usual process seems to be try and fail, make mistakes, gaining experience along the way. Humility comes in handy, too. Eventually we gain wisdom.

    Knowledge does not equal wisdom. Wisdom is knowing what to do with the knowledge one possesses.

    Wealth does not equal a happy life. Even if you possess both, your life could be an empty shell, never able to trust that anyone cares about you rather than your money. 

    People to love and who love you matter so much more and give meaning to life. 

    Something to live for provides a reason to get up every morning.

    Real wealth, real peace, consists of knowing who you are and Whose you are. 

    Now, in the beginning of this school year, is a good time to remember that–and pass it on to our children. When we forget, we short-change them . . . and ourselves.

    Here's to education and figuring out what counts,

    Lenore

    Now that school is back in session around here, people are shopping–and talking. What children need most seems to be a popular subject. "Good teachers!" says one parent.

    "Good schools, with a lot of choices," says another.

    "What counts most is IQ," says the third.

    "Uh-uh," says the fourth. "Without a healthy self-image, none of the rest matters. Kids who feel good about themselves will make it, no matter what."  

    All agree that they want their kids to have a good life and be able to hold a well-paying job. Hey, that's the American dream.

    Yet the "good life" really is more than the sum of these very good parts. Think how many times we see accounts of individuals who overcame poor teachers and schools, even troubled family situations and poverty, yet went on to achieve remarkable goals. 

    As for the super-intelligent types among us, they may be supremely educated and much-admired, but that doesn't necessarily equip them for living. We once knew a terrifically interesting fellow, a brilliant individual with a string of degrees. The simplest stuff of daily life baffled him, even something as basic as replacing a burned-out bulb in a light fixture. 

    Or take those who become famous and acquire great wealth. They make the news, yes, but often for messing up their personal lives yet again. I've never met a parent who wanted that for their kids.

   Like it or not, parents influence their children more than any other factor, and every survey of teens and young adults bears that out. So even though our darlings, especially teens, argue against it, they do care what counts with Mom and Dad. So it's worth asking ourselves, what do our kids think matters to grownups in their lives? Sometimes our children (and grandchildren) pick up mixed messages we don't know we're sending.

    Casual conversations with friends speak volumes to the kids in our lives. Suppose I meet a friend at Starbucks. The younger generation hangs at the next table, guzzling their fruit smoothies while we sip our Lattes. She's telling me about the Oprah show she saw, and I say, "Oh, man, what I wouldn't give to have her money! All that money, all those houses, people at her beck and call . . . what a life that would be!"

    Later I tell my kids–and mean it–"Remember, money can't buy happiness. That's not what matters most."

   Do you think my child will pay more attention to another "mommy lecture" or to what Mommy said to her good friend?

    I'm guessing it's the latter, so it's crucial to watch what we say, but more than that. First we need to know what we truly believe and what we stand for, then talk about it. We can't assume our kids are able to pick through and discern what's important to us. We need to say the words.

    If integrity makes our list, we point out individuals who demonstrate that, in small ways as well as big. We keep watch for when one of our kids acts kindly or considerately. Be sensitive in speaking praise, perhaps waiting for one-on-one time. Dad gets to hear about it, too. Then tell Grandma (or another friend) how kind and thoughtful this child is, preferably when the youngster can over hear it. 

    As for grades, keep them in perspective. Kids may study hard and do their best, yet fall short of being tops in their class. Let that be enough and say so. Don't we say that's what we want, that they study hard and do their best? When grades alone top the list, pressure to copy someone else's work increases. So does the feeling of not measuring up. 

    So we applaud the efforts, whatever the results. "You worked hard!" is music to the heart.  Searching out something we admire encourages them to keep on, keepin' on. Say "Good job!" as often as you can. (Isn't that what we all long to hear?)

    School is one thing, life is another. Every part of it gets easier when we have a personal cheering section, at any age. Words matter. So do hugs. 

    Our kids need to know we love them, not when, not if, but as they are. Period. They respond to that as a plant responds to sunshine.

    Here's to shining brightly!    

    Lenore