| Religion and stress can work to your benefit | | | | They deserve our respect and true care. |
| ordetriment | | | | Give them the space they need, trust them, letthem |
| Religion and stress might seem like an | | | | make mistakes and learn. |
| unlikelyconnection, but the two are very closely | | | | You can't just leave them to their own deviceseither, |
| related. | | | | unless you want to reap a whirlwind lateron. Find a |
| On the one hand, religion can greatly help toreduce | | | | balance, each child is unique andspecial. Plus, they are |
| emotional stress on your family. On theother hand, | | | | only children once. Makespirituality a part of their lives |
| religion can become one of the majorcauses of | | | | by making itimportant in yours. Then you can enjoy |
| stress. | | | | thejourney together and learn and grow together. |
| The healing and inspirational power of religioncan | | | | This bond is unbreakable because it is born outof life. |
| quickly become an oppressive, deadening forcein | | | | How can religion help your family? |
| your family. It is, unfortunately, a part ofhuman | | | | The restorative power of a living religion toreduce |
| nature to force our beliefs on others. | | | | emotional and physical stress is amazing. |
| Obviously, children need moral guidance and tolearn | | | | Reading, praying, and meditating all can greatlyhelp |
| to be rooted and grounded in a personalbelief | | | | reduce stress in your family. |
| system. It is primarily the responsibilityof parents to | | | | One of the greatest healing powers of religionlies in |
| teach this, by example first, andwords second. | | | | thankfulness. Making a habit of beingthankful will |
| Don't let religion and stress become a problem inyour | | | | greatly reduce the stress in anyrelationship, especially |
| family | | | | in a family. |
| Your children need a moral base to stand on. | | | | It is amazing how a little quiet time can help |
| Theyneed a belief system to help them | | | | tomanage stress. Whether you find your quiet |
| navigatethrough the murky waters of modern | | | | timealone in your house, walking down a garden |
| society. | | | | path,hiking in the woods, or sitting in a church, |
| Without an inner voice guiding them to make | | | | thepower of a peaceful, quiet time is enormous. |
| sound,healthy decisions, they can easily be led down | | | | Meditative reading not only calms your mind, butgives |
| apath they later greatly regret. | | | | inspirational motivation to strive for thebest you can |
| It requires time and patience to instill moralbeliefs into | | | | become. There is so much wonderfulreading material |
| a child. They are incrediblyobservant and aware of | | | | available, the key is to have itclose at hand and to |
| hypocrisy and deceit. | | | | use it. Don't let it be likethe decaying vegetable in |
| Children learn primarily by your example, notonly in | | | | many refrigeratordrawers; it was bought with good |
| the early years, but possibly more so asthey grow | | | | intentions, butnever eaten! |
| older and understand more. Thosebeliefs will remain, | | | | Prayer give you peace and clarity of mind. |
| even in the midst of teenageturmoil, though it might | | | | Whenchildren observe you praying, not just |
| not appear to be so atthe time! | | | | fordeliverance from the latest crisis, but as a partof |
| Talk to them, listen to them, spend time togetherand | | | | your life, they will naturally be drawn to it. |
| point out everyday examples of right andwrong. | | | | There is no need to be formal and use big wordsto |
| They don't need to be preached at, justshared with. | | | | try and sound spiritual, it is far better tobe real. |
| Never allow religion and stress tobecome part of | | | | In this way, religion and stress becomes a usefultool |
| your moral guidance. Use the timein the car, at the | | | | to improve our lives, as well as give ourchildren a |
| table, on a walk. Before youknow it, they will be | | | | life-long example to live by. |
| grown and on their own. | | | | What about organized religion and stress? |
| Why is the preacher's kid so bad? | | | | Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism,and a |
| Very often, those people who wish to have | | | | dozen other major and minor religions |
| modelchildren end up with a disaster. Preacher's | | | | existthroughout the world. Religious intolerance |
| kidsare often some of the most rebellious. Just talkto | | | | isresponsible for so many of the world's problems. |
| one of them and it quickly becomes evidentwhat | | | | Oddly enough, most, if not all, teach tolerancefor the |
| happened. All the demands for great behavior,service | | | | beliefs of others. Somehow, that is justforgotten and |
| to the church, and the constant drummingof | | | | overlooked. |
| instruction had the reverse effect of drivingthem | | | | It can happen that your children will choose adifferent |
| away. | | | | religion that yours. Often, this ismore of a search for |
| Religion and stress can quickly become | | | | meaning and truth than arebellion. The truth should be |
| associatedtogether, especially when our intentions are | | | | able to withstandthe closest scrutiny, so it is a good |
| sogood! Sometimes parents try too hard to | | | | thing tosearch and seek. In this way, they will |
| makesomething good grow. | | | | drawtheir own conclusions and be authentic. |
| In Norway I once saw a statue of a famous | | | | There is a fine line between being a responsibleparent |
| Vikingruler who Christianized the country by the | | | | and forcing your will on your child. Whenit concerns |
| swordand broad-axe, so I was told. Either | | | | religion, extra sensitivity isrequired to guide them. |
| youconverted or got your head chopped off. | | | | Religion and stressshould be part of our healing and |
| Talkabout religion and stress! There just has to be | | | | growing, notour arguing and strife! |
| abetter way in our families! | | | | Religion is about life! Make sure it is just that,and not |
| Children are not our guinea pigs, where we tryout | | | | only a formal going-through-the-motionsexperience. |
| our programs and experiment with the latestnew | | | | Don't let it become you do justbecause you are |
| idea. Religion and stress can disrupt theirnormal | | | | supposed to do it. Yourinvolvement and enthusiasm |
| development and cause them to suffer foryears. | | | | will be contagious,far more than forcing your will. |