It is time once again to prepare for summer vacation. For teachers, the summer months are the traditional time to rest, regroup, and prepare for next year. For students, it has become a time of rest and relaxationa time to "enjoy life" before the next school year. But is "enjoying one's self" a Christian attitude toward free time? This summer, may we as teachers encourage our students to do more than just enjoy themselves.

Paul tells Timothy in I Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despises thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." It is clear in scripture that one main difference between Christians and non-Christians should be the desire to serve. The tradition of summer vacation in America has unfortunately gone away from the concept of young people working in the fields, as was once a reason for taking a break from school. Our self-serving culture has permeated our Christian school walls. But according to Paul, our young people should be examples of the Christian faith, not of our culture's standards. Your students are capable of service. They just need a little direction. Here are some general ideas that you can use to help them enjoy the fruit of service.

Elementary students can be servants just by being attentive to their parents and all the work that needs to be done around the house. Encourage them to be perceptive every day to see how they can help out. Keeping their room clean, helping out with chores around the house, even washing the car without being told are great ways they can be excellent examples. And when school starts up again, instead of asking for a report on how they enjoyed their summer vacation, ask for a report on how they served.

Junior high and high school students usually find summer vacation as just a time to look for something to do. Many times, idle hands are the reason they find themselves in trouble. Encourage these students to look for ways to serve such as visiting nursing homes, helping out with landscaping around home and school, serving at the local homeless shelter, or even finding a mission trip to join. True satisfaction comes from helping others, and your encouragement will help them experience this.

Seniors are ready for their next stage in life, whether it is going to college, joining the work force, or both. You are not only their educational guide, but many times they look to you for spiritual guidance as well. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31-33, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." If you can persuade your students of the truth of this passage, you will help them understand life the way God intended. If they first seek the kingdom of God, they will never have to worry about the basic necessities of life! What a blessing!

Joseph, David, Timothy, and even Jesus himself are biblical proof that young people are to do much more than just go to school for 9 months, and then spend 3 months vacationing. God wants to use your young people now, not only after they have graduated from high school and college. May the coming days of summer find them not giving anyone reason to despise their youth!