Don’t Forget About Me

Keeping One’s Perspective When So Much Is Vying for Our Attention

Distractions. Whatever form they take, they present a challenge for all of us, no matter what stage of life we’re in. One that seems to be getting significant press currently concerns texting while driving. A billboard in north Fort Worth discourages it. A member of the Texas Rangers baseball team is on the radio advising against it. We’re dangerous weapons behind the wheel of a car, and so are the people sharing the road with us. So the message is: Take care of the task at hand—arriving at our destination in one piece. When our attention is taken away from that and onto making sure our best friend knows what we did today or someone else knows when we’ll be home, well, that just invites disaster.

Hooray!!!

Slam! The sippy cup lands on the table. Two giant gray-green eyes look up at me and then around the table as chubby hands start to silently clap together. On cue, everyone else in the room jubilantly applauds and cheers. This situation repeats itself about 75 times every meal in our house. Wesley, almost 15 months, is very proud of the fact that he can put his cup on the table (instead of hurl it to the floor) and receive affirmation for this difficult task. As his mother, I am the most boisterous of his supporters in all things: for the moment, gross motor skills.

Getting to Know Your Professors

One of the great things I remember about going to college was the interaction with friends. It was always nice to spend time with fellow students just talking, laughing and sharing. However, there is another group of people on campus who care about your success at college also. And if you are willing to invest some time with them, they are willing to invest time with you. Most of the professors at the Universities close to us want students to really learn and succeed.  

Finding a Local Church

I believe establishing a church home is one of the most important things you can do during college. While I am a huge advocate of campus ministries and was an active member of TCU’s Christian sorority HIS (He Is Sufficient) and the BSM (Baptist Student Ministry), organizations on campus are no substitute for church.

The church members you connect with are able to provide spiritual guidance, support, and encouragement that you may not find in a campus ministry where all the fellow members are your same age and in your same walk in life. In addition, the relationships you form will, in turn, provide accountability and challenges that help you grow.