Advice for parents of new college students

Some of the good reads that stood out to me this week:

We Need Humility to Study the Bible. “The very existence of the Bible should fill us with gratitude. How wonderful that God has made himself known! It should also kindle humility within us—we need him to reach to us because we could never reach him ourselves. Humility must be the beginning—indeed, the ongoing foundation—of Bible study. But it is also necessary in each stage along the way.”

Why Good Stories Have Bad Examples. “To be sure, stories can be written in such a way that presents negative behaviors in a positive light. In such cases, wise parents will talk with their kids about the issue or choose to pass over the story in favor of others that more clearly illustrate the good, true, and beautiful. And yet, let’s not be too quick to dismiss that a ‘negative example’ equals a negative effect on your child.”

Why Walking in Faith Can Be Our Place of Greatest Victory. “I understand why believers need supernatural help to soar. And to run. But why would we need God’s help to walk? Compared to flying or running, walking requires much less strength and stamina. Or does it?”

Young Woman, What’s Your Legacy? “When we hear the word legacy, our minds often go to older women––the wise ones at church with white hair and Bibles so well-loved that the gold edges have faded, pages have yellowed, and words that were once jet black have turned gray. We might think of the teachers and professors who have shaped us, the mentors who have poured into us, and the church leaders who have faithfully loved the Lord and His people. But when is the last time you took a minute to think about your legacy?”

Of Love and Keychains. “Sometimes those with the highest confidence and well-honed social skills hide a deadly insecurity underneath. Celebrities have 3 to 10 times the rate of depression vs. the general population. These are people who are beautiful, wealthy, and adored.It’s not just you and me. So where do we go with this inner ache? This hunger to belong? To be loved?”

Why the Internet Is Making Men and Women Hate Each Other, HT to Challies. “The Internet is, of course, very interested. And the way particular social media platforms and groups are participating in the discourse illustrates again one of the most important things anyone can realize about the modern Internet: It’s a place where each sex is learning to loathe the other.”

Advice for Parents of New College Students, HT to Challies. “But what about the parents? There’s plenty out there for all we’re supposed to do for the years, months, and weeks leading up to dropping them off to college. Yes, start that 529 savings account early. But my experience is that while a lot of parents are prepared for the lead up to “launch,” few have given much thought to what happens after.”