Rainey’s Bulletin for the past several weeks has been requesting community perspectives on increasing parental engagement, and we are pleased to share another article submitted by a local community advocate Candice Billingsley.
She is a single parent of seven children and a devoted parent advocate. She demonstrates her commitment by serving as assistant to the president of Parent Support for Education Council Inc.
BY CANDICE BILLINGSLEY
Desire is the driving force that causes many parents to want to be involved with their child’s education; however, the author of confusion, better known as “Satan,” loves to use his best tactics, “distraction,” to hinder many from being the best parent, living their lives as they dreamed, accomplishing their many goals and serving God the way their heart desires.
When you are distracted, being your best and most conscious self takes the back seat. James 1:14-15 scripture says, “but each one is tempted when, by his evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
You see, so it is our own desires after being tempted that cause us to veer off from the intended goal into an unwanted realm of chaos, abuse, horrible and unhealthy relationships, survivor mode and drama! It is then, desire, the same force that can take us back to where we want to be, whether it is to dwell with God, be in peace, to create healthy relationships or back to love – what God really is! (1 John 4:16)
Parental engagement starts from the time a baby is conceived in the womb and the mother sees those two lines that slowly appear across the pregnancy test. It is not believed that the average mother or father would hold their baby in their arms after entering into this world and want anything other than the best for the child. The same love that desired their baby to grow up and be the best productive citizen, that same love that raised Jesus from the dead, that same love that gives a mother the strength to pick a car up and pull her child from underneath it is the same love that can increase how engaged a parent is in his or her child’s education!
Tap back into the life that God gave you a vision of, and use that as your driving force to become more involved with your child’s learning. Encourage the next parent to nurture the very essence of their child and to be present in the moment long enough to dream and desire what’s best educationally for their child. Give your child permission to be GREAT. In Jesus’ name, amen!
To contact Candice Billingsley, please email her at cangelena@gmail.com or call 727-565-7204.
Pastor Rainey
