“Light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” Luke 12:35b-36

It’s just about time for many in Kewanee to get back to school. Teachers, parents and students are making their final preparations for embarking on a successful school year. As school supplies, new clothes, and books are being prepared, we also can use this time to prepare ourselves spiritually.

In the twelfth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the importance of being prepared at all times for our time of judgment. When we are looking at preparing our children for a new school year, do we also prepare them spiritually? Do we give them the tools to pray silently when times get challenging? Do we give them the tools to resist the temptations that they encounter each day in school? Things like resisting drugs, sexual advances, fighting, cursing and other sinful behavior?

These are the kinds of things that I would argue are even more important preparations than proper school supplies and new school clothes. The way that we spiritually equip our children can have a large bearing on their success not only in school, but more importantly in life. Our children are entrusted with the knowledge that they need to learn, but even more importantly, parents and teachers are entrusted with making our children good, holy people.

Perhaps as part of our preparation for the new school year, we can make a resolution to bring our children to church each weekend. By cultivating a once/week habit of attendance at church, we can give our children some of the most important gifts they can possibly have: a relationship with God, a moral compass, discipline and courage to face any temptations that may come.

Let us heed the words of Jesus, not just with pencils, paper and clothes, but with souls that are ever ready to meet our Savior!

Rev. John A. Cramer
Pastor Holy Trinity NCC

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Kewanee Voice.