Do you worry? Seems like every time you turn around, there’s another headline that strikes fear and causes worry these days. What about your kids? Do you worry about them? Do you worry you will ruin them? Do you worry about the things they will have to face? What can you do about worry? Well, Keri Eichberger is with me in this episode to talk about these big issues surrounding worry. Keri offers encouraging insights and reminds us of the power of God’s truth in conquering worry and finding peace in all seasons of life. You can win over worry!
In this episode, Keri and I discuss:
Keri’s family dynamics with five children and how that lends itself to an environment of worrying
How you can help someone if you are just one step ahead of them
The distinction between genuine concern and worry
Understanding the root fears behind worry, which often include a fear of helplessness and a fear of being unloved or unworthy
Understanding God’s unconditional love and his power
Overcoming worry by seeking God’s truth, turning to prayer, embracing community, studying the Bible, and other spiritual practices
Acknowledging that some individuals may be more predisposed to worry due to their wiring, but still emphasizing the same things work for those people
Keri’s example of a fear of flying and trusting God
Worry is common and we all face it. But, worry is not from God and you can overcome it through the power of God who lives in you!
About Keri Eichberger
Keri Eichberger lives just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband Mike and their five kids. Her own roller coaster of life trials, redeemed by a relationship with the Lord, fueled her desire to help others discover and experience the fullness of life found in Jesus. After years of writing for an online audience, she became ordained through Southeast Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She continues to follow her calling to bring faith-filled encouragement to others around the world through her social media influence, devotionals, Faith Fueled podcast, and Christian nonfiction books.
I had the opportunity to meet up with my long-time friend Michael Farris at the National Religious Broadcasters convention a few weeks ago. He graciously agreed to have a conversation with me to share with you here at Equipped To Be. Michael has such a breadth of experience and knowledge in the areas of homeschooling, the Constitution, free speech, and legal defense of these topics. We spent some time talking about the cultural shifts that are being seen in our country and what we as Christians can do about it.
This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.
Michael and I talk about:
Michael’s background, including his involvement in the homeschool movement, the founding of HSLDA, and his leadership roles in various organizations focused on protecting families and promoting the gospel of Christ.
The importance of delegating and empowering others to shine for long-term success.
The cultural shifts in America: those who hate God vs those who love God
The importance of the 1st Amendment: Totalitarianism and control of what you think
The dangers of suppressing dissenting opinions
Being open about your faith, your homeschooling, your lifestyle, etc.
The fight for our families, our children, our grandchildren, and our future.
Michael’s new project coming this fall
Stand up, Show up, Speak up.
I hope that my conversation with Michael has inspired and equipped you. These cultural shifts are happening all around us. What will you do next to stand up, show up, and speak up?
About Michael Farris
Former President & CEO Alliance Defending Freedom (2017-2022)
Farris was also founding president of both the Home School Legal Defense Association (1983), Patrick Henry College (2000), ParentalRight.org (2009), Convention of the States.
In 2022, Farris accepted a post at the NRB.org in the Office of General Counsel.
Farris has specialized in constitutional appellate litigation. In that capacity, he has argued before the appellate courts of 13 states, eight federal circuit courts of appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court, where in 2018 he successfully argued NIFLA v. Becerra, resulting in a free speech victory for California’s pro-life pregnancy centers.
Farris has testified many times before both the House and Senate. He was an executive committee member of the Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion that successfully lobbied Congress for the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. He also has substantial experience in international religious freedom advocacy.
Farris is the author of over 15 books, as well as law review and other scholarly and popular articles. He and his wife, Vickie, have 10 children and many grandchildren.
Do your children have summer jobs? Do they have a part-time job or work as an intern or volunteer somewhere? Fox 35 Orlando asked me to speak on this topic of teens and summer jobs and I always have so much more to say on these topics than I can fit into a short morning show segment. A lot of learning happens with summer jobs, so let’s talk about the benefits of a summer job for your teen!
This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.
I was speaking at a conference and walked into the lobby of the hotel to find a sign that said, “Workers are scarce. The whole country is facing a worker shortage. Be nice to those who show up.” I’m a strong advocate of rest, play, and learning to use boredom, but I also see that learning happens on the construction site, in an office filling papers, or volunteering at a non-profit organization. There’s value gained in these experiences for your teens working at a summer job.
Benefits of a Summer Job for Teens
Summer jobs can teach children and teens a lot of valuable life lessons and skills. Some of these include learning:
The value of work from a financial perspective – Your teen’s job can show them the value of work and how to separate income from their personal worth. They can also earn cash that can go towards savings, college, or personal interests. This is also an opportunity for parents to talk with and teach children about pay, negotiating raises, and other financial skills.
Useful hard and soft skills – Summer jobs can give your child the opportunity to hone a particular skill in an area of interest or show them that they don’t like working in a particular field. Beyond that, there are soft skills like problem-solving that are gained along the way.
How to work with a variety of people – These summer and part-time opportunities put your child into situations where they have to interact with people of all different ages, life stages, personalities, and more. They can gain valuable experience in learning to serve and get along with all kinds of people, some of whom they might not normally come into contact with or from whom they might have differing beliefs.
Summer Job Ideas
What kinds of jobs can your children and teens get this summer? Here’s a list to help you get started thinking about the possibilities:
Construction, pool cleaning, lawn maintenance, lifeguard, parks and recreation
Online: video editing, virtual assistant, learning software tools, graphic design, social media ads creator
Creative: production crew, tradeshow designs
In-Office: receptionist, office assistant, intern
Volunteer: city events, sporting events, music and theater events, hospitals
Consider all of these benefits of and options for summer jobs for your children. Working during the summer months can help your teens develop important skills, cultivate a strong work ethic, and gain valuable experiences for their future.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Raymond Arroyo, a New York Times bestselling author and Fox News contributor, at the 2023 National Religious Broadcasters Convention. He agreed to sit down and have a conversation with me for the podcast. There were so many things we could have discussed! We could have talked about politics or how the world is crumbling around us, but we landed on a topic that strengthens the family, and I hope it is going to encourage you. Raymond and I were talking about how children are curious, and I knew this was the topic we needed to focus on! He’s written a book series called Turnabout Tales that focuses on little-known yet fascinating stories of historical figures who went from underdog to hero, and the adults who inspired them to be true to themselves and do big things that changed the world. The first book in the series is about the life of Thomas Alva Edison and his mother Nancy.
This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.
In this episode, Raymond and I discuss taking children from underdog to hero and discuss these things along the way:
The importance of children’s curiosity
Raymond’s interest in Thomas Alva Edison and his discovery of his background
The role of Nancy Edison, Thomas’s mother, in his upbringing and education
The challenges Thomas Edison faced, including being labeled as an “idiot” by a schoolmaster
The significance of Nancy Edison’s belief in her son’s potential and her role in fostering his curiosity and intelligence
The impact of Nancy Edison’s influence on Thomas’s inventions and creativity
The importance of recognizing and nurturing children’s gifts, strengths, and talents
The marginalized role of mothers in society and the need to value and affirm their contribution and lifelong impact
The book’s cover and the representation of Nancy Edison
Thomas Edison’s hustle and work ethic at a young age
The influence of Nancy Edison’s decision to homeschool Thomas and its impact on his life trajectory
I hope you enjoyed our conversation about curiosity and the importance of relationships in a child’s life that help them go from underdog to hero. Be sure to check out Raymond’s website and look for another Turnabout Tales story to be released in the fall of 2023!
About Raymond Arroyo
Raymond Arroyo is an internationally known, award-winning journalist, producer, and New York Times Bestselling author. As a Fox News Contributor and Editorial Advisor to the top-rated, The Ingraham Angle, he has created the popular “Seen and Unseen” and “Friday Follies” segments that have become audience favorites. He regularly files reports for Fox News and co-hosts Fox Nation’s “Laura and Raymond” with Laura Ingraham each week.
Tasks. Work. Chores. Whatever you call them, there are things that need to be done in your home, and frankly, no one really wants to have to do them. Since the magic fairy isn’t going to be arriving anytime soon to handle these things, we as parents have to find a way to motivate our kids to get their share of the work done. I found that every age and stage and child requires a little different tactic and mindset, but it always comes back to adding an element of fun.
This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.
An Element of Fun in Daily Tasks
As Mary Poppins so famously said, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.”
That fun might be adding a timer to see how fast the job can be completed. This is great for your competitive kids. It might mean promising an outside fun activity after the work is finished. When we make it fun, everyone’s attitude is better, even yours!
The way that you phrase or present the tasks makes a difference. This requires thinking about your child’s unique personality and motivations. What will get this child excited about doing something? I know there are some kids who just have more of a bent toward murmuring and complaining, and it will take more work to get to a joyful heart for those kids. But, I’ve found that for most kids, offering a treat or reward activity really helps.
Sometimes your child’s creative ways will actually make the tasks take longer. That’s ok. Don’t squash their creativity. Let them use those skills and gifts. Sometimes it lightens the mood and makes everyone have more fun. Just be aware of your very responsible child who just wants to get the job done. They might be bothered by a sibling who stretches out the time it takes to do a task.
I’ve talked many times about journaling and keeping notes about your child. What motivates, excites, and delights your children? Use these insights to help motivate them to get the hard, boring, mundane things done.
By incorporating fun into everyday chores, parents can foster unity and collaboration, and ignite their child’s imagination. You’re instilling in them character qualities that will be written on their hearts for a lifetime. One day, your kids will sit around the table, when they are adults and don’t have to be there, and they will remember these days and how you made daily tasks fun.
A news outlet recently asked me to talk about the boom in homeschooling. Why is there such a surge of parents choosing to homeschool their kids? I’m a little surprised they couldn’t see the answer based on the news they are reporting. My kids are grown and having kids of their own, but I’m even more passionate about homeschooling now than I was years ago when I was homeschooling my own kids. It’s important that you as a parent find your voice in the midst of the noise of this struggle with educators. Who knows your child best? You? Or an educator?
My passion for homeschooling started because I wanted a close family and figured I could teach them the basics just as well as the public school could. My perspective on why to homeschool has changed over the years. Now, it’s more about families. I care about families and our nation. I see the design and purpose for which God created families.
Those who hold the purse strings of the American educational system do not want dissenting opinions. They don’t want your children to be able to compete in the global marketplace. There is a dumbing down of America in process and yet educators and administrators have the audacity to tell parents that they don’t know what they are doing when it comes to educating their own children. They assert that they are the ones who know your child best.
You Know Your Child Best!
My advice to you as the parent is this: Don’t accept it when you’re told you don’t have a voice in your child’s education! You as the parent are the one who knows your child best!
When a wedge is driven between parents and children, our children become fair game for any ideology that anyone wants to teach them. The reality is that God gave you your children and they are your responsibility to teach and train. There’s an army of folks who are against you and don’t believe that parents are or should be the primary influence on their child’s life.
We are told to shut up and go along, but the reality is that it is your job to be the primary influence in your child’s life. I’m sure that many of us don’t speak because we don’t want to be targeted. Please, don’t abdicate this role in your child’s life! You are enough for your kids. Again, you are the one who knows your child best! Most of parenting is figuring out what you’re going to do in any given situation. What is best for your child? What is best for your family? God shows you the way.
Hold onto this: You’re going to get it right more than an educator who sees your child a limited number of hours a week during the school year. It’s not about perfection. It’s about God’s design for the family and knowing that you’re equipped by God to be the parent your child needs.
What can you do? You can decide now what the priority is for your family. Keep your focus there. We want our children to want to be with us and spend time with us as they get older but these strong relationships must be built now while they are kids, before they leave your home.
