Chaplain's Message

This week Alice Springs has been privileged to have Susan McLean share her wisdom and vast experience with us regarding Cyber Safety for our children.

I found this little story on the internet which touched me deeply – as we get older it becomes part of life to look back and reflect on what we have done well and what could have been done better – particularly in the way we may have raised our children. The greatest gift, the most important job we have – and we take it on with no qualifications or experience!! No wonder we make mistakes. However, the lure of our phones is indeed proving to be a real challenge for young and old alike. May we be honest with ourselves about how it is impacting our relationships – the very thing that will possibly keep our children safe. Communication, knowledge that they are loved and are the most important people in our lives, more important than any on-line addiction!!

PARENTS, PAY ATTENTION!!!

A teacher was grading her students’ homework.

Meanwhile, her husband was walking around the house, glued to his smartphone, immersed in his favourite game.

When she got to the last assignment, the teacher quietly began to cry.

Her husband noticed and asked:

— What happened?

She replied:

— Yesterday, I gave my students a writing assignment: "MY WISH."

The husband said:

— Okay, but why are you crying?

Holding back tears, the wife answered:

— While correcting the last paper, I couldn’t help but cry.

Curious, the husband asked:

— What was written that was so emotional?

The wife began to read:

My wish is to become a smartphone.

My parents love their smartphone very much.

They take care of their smartphone so well that sometimes they forget to take care of me.

When my dad comes home tired from work, he has time for his smartphone, but not for me.

When my parents are doing something important and the phone rings, they answer it immediately—but they don’t do the same with me, even when I’m crying.

They play with their phones, but not with me.

When they’re talking to someone on the phone, they don’t listen to me, even when I’m saying something important.

So my wish is to become a smartphone.

After hearing those words, the husband was deeply moved and asked:

— Who wrote that essay?

The wife, with teary eyes, replied:

— OUR SON.

PARENTS, remember this:

Electronic devices are helpful, but they are meant to make our lives easier—

not to replace love for our family and the people we care about.

Children see and feel everything happening around them.

Their experiences shape their minds and leave marks to last a lifetime.

Let’s care for them, so they grow up with the right values and without false needs.

Author Unknown 

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Prov 22:6

This takes so much love, time, patience and a good example!

Pastor Sarah Pollitt

College Chaplain