Today is a ‘teachable moment’ in history, an opportune time to teach our children about patriotism and Christian duty. They can learn, first hand, how to respect and preserve liberty.
Sunday night was a *visual* for me when 4 of our teens were crowded around my laptop as we watched the voting live from the Capital ‘floor’ on healthcare. The passage of this historic legislation eek-ed by with 4 {that’s F-O-U-R} votes! If FOUR Congressmen had voted differently – history would have swung its pendulum in the opposite direction. I pointed out the obvious … “see how a handful of people can steer a nation? That could be the 4 of YOU!”
I’m convinced we can raise patriots who will look political injustice in the eye and fight for what’s right – rather than ‘tuck tail and run’. Like those who’ve gone before us – our kids are longing to lay their lives down for a cause. This spirit is what our country’s founded upon and it’s our privilege to pass it on.
So, while you’re, *ruling the world rocking the cradle* at home – I’ve listed some ideas on cultivating a patriotic heart in our nation’s future leaders:
- Sing songs that have made America great. “Wee Sing America“
- Hang a flag outside – if the one you have is tattered, replace it – kids love doing this!
- Acknowledge Federal Holidays {Flag Day, Veteran’s Day etc …} honoring their significance.
- Read about George Washington – the father of our country {The Bulletproof George Washington, Washington’s Rules of Civility}
- Enjoy, Drive Through History – America.
- Add Lynn Cheney’s children’s books on patriotism to your home library.
- Vote! Take the kids with you – it’s not easy – but they’ll REMEMBER the adventure!
- Tune in to political pundits – The Huckabee Report is clean and family friendly.
- Read aloud - how our country was settled and our freedom secured – it’s fascinating!
- Volunteer – I’ll never forget when our kids wore their volunteer *Vote Republican* t-shirts in Whole Foods – I thought the ‘foodies’ might need herbal resusitation!
- Register to vote – it’s a *rights of passage* into adulthood. Give Voter’s Registration cards along with 18th birthday gifts.
- Offer Voter’s Registration sign-up to your church {it’s LEGAL}
- Watch political debates – it’s surprising what you’ll hear promised.
“All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burk
“You are the salt of the earth; but it the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? … You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
This is a continuation of Raising Patriots and I think there will be more to come …
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Im laughing to myself about the Wholefood comment
Also, thanks for the encouragement of taking the kids to vote with you. I took the 4 of mine to vote for the primaries a couple weeks ago (or whenever it was) and went to the wrong place! 2 big kids and 2 strollers into that place to be told I was at the wrong precinct! Ugh. But, that wasnt the worst part! The worst part was when they were looking up to see if I was in the right location they made me step across enemy lines, er I mean over to the Dems side. I just about died! As people shuffled in and out and looked at me on the (empty) Dem side I wanted to shout “I dont vote this way!!!! THey MADE me come over here!” Oh, so embarassing 
Thanks for the encouragement in the political issues.
Lindsay,
Now we can see your sweet face. Glad you did the Gravatar through http://tiny.cc/je7ur – pass it on.
Visiting your Statehouse and meeting the lawmakers is a great thing to do. We take our children to rally’s and we were once invited to sit on the House floor as laws were being passed! (This was a moment to be thankful that the child training had paid off!) Our high schoolers have served as Pages for our Representatives (in the House and the Senate!). We take our children to TEA Parties as well. They were even invited to sing at a large TEA Party last summer. They used the opportunity to not only sing songs of Patriotism, but also about freedom in Christ.
Cheryl,
Thanks for your great ideas. I love to hear what others are doing.
We got to visit a TEA Party last year and the kids found it amazing! The press interviewed the few ‘hecklers’ on the fringes and ignored the hundreds of attendees. They even earned a place on the evening news. We got to see politics in action.
Great ideas!
Thanks for stopping by my site. :O)
Great post! My son loves going to vote with us- thanks for the other great ideas! It is so important for out kids to grow up knowing what’s going on in our world.