I am constantly telling kids to mind their own business and to worry about themselves. See they come up to me several times a day to complain about someone else. They point out what that other person is doing wrong and how that other person is bothering them. My response usually is “what should you be doing?” See it is not that I don’t care what the other child is doing (most likely something that is against the rules or is quite annoying). In fact, I know they are doing those things and instead of being able to handle that situation, I am caught up trying to get the other kids who are pointing out the mistakes of others and can’t address the problem. I am saying don’t worry about those other people because I want them to care about them instead.
Worry and Caring are two different things. I don’t get kids coming up to me to let me know what an awesome job someone else is doing or pointing out how well someone is following the rules. In our world, we do a whole lot of worrying and not a lot of care. We worry about getting sick and point fingers toward those who are not vaccinating, washing their hands, sanitizing, exercising, praying and a long list of other things. What if we changed our view to caring about how we can help those who are sick, how we can give to those who can’t afford all the things we are stocking up on.
I don’t want my kids or my students to get into the bad habit of worrying about what everybody else is doing. I know what that road of worry leads to…it leads to us worrying about whether we are popular, doing what everyone else is doing, unhealthy comparing and a whole host of other negative behaviors. Instead, I want my kids or students to get in the habit of noticing the good in people instead of the bad; to care only if they are doing the right thing so that someone has a good example to follow.
See we need leaders and I think we are confused at what a leader is. A leader is someone who does what they are supposed to do in order for others to know what to do by example. Being able to see through actions instead of words, being noticed for the good they are doing because they are noticing the right things in people. Most schools have acronyms for what behaviors they expect from their students like P.R.I.D.E. or S.T.A.R.R (problem solve, respect, integrity, demonstrate responsibility, expect success) (Safe, Thoughtful, Attentive, Respectful, Responsible).
We want our kids the next generation of society to be able to problem-solve, show respect, have integrity, demonstrate responsibility and expect to succeed. We want these things for them because these attributes make up a well-rounded person. Of course, one thing is missing and that is Jesus, and unfortunately, we can’t in our public schools identify that Jesus had these attributes that we are trying to instill. We want our kiddos to care about themselves enough to have all the necessary attributes to show others how to live. We want them to not worry about what everyone else is doing, so much so that they don’t worry about how they are behaving. We want them to care more about how the other person is feeling, care about how they can help that person, care enough to show that other person the right way to live by setting a good example.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
Family Matters in Africa 