Langkahku

Mazmur 18:36 (TB)
Kauberikan tempat lapang untuk langkahku, dan mata kakiku tidak goyah.

Soerat Tjinta

Jumat malam kami berdua pulang sudah larut malam. Saya ada acara buka bersama di sekolah, sementara si Mami menunggu di pusat perbelanjaan sambil ngobrol dengan sahabatnya.

Akhirnya saya pun bisa menyusulnya setelah acara selesai tapi macetnya alamaaaak...ngeri! Dan nongkrong plus ngobrolnya pun berlanjut. Sampai jam 10an kira-kira baru keluar pulang. Ternyata jalanan masih macet juga.

Dan...akhirnya sampailah dirumah. Sudah di tungguin sama si Abby, dia bilang, "aku punya sesuatu untuk kalian berdua" lalu menyerahkan selembar kertas dengan tulisan "Abby sayang sama mami, Abby sayang sama papi" dan gambar hati didalam kotak dibawah tulisannya.

Wow...betapa ungkapan perasaan yang luar biasa untuk anak seusianya. Kami sayang sama Abby juga...selamanya...

Top Ten Ways to Teach Values to Your Kids by Mark Brandenburg

In a consumer-driven society that broadcasts values that don’t reflect what you believe, how can fathers teach values to their kids? Here are ten ideas to help you:

1. Tell them your life stories and teach through your stories
   Kids love to hear stories about your childhood. Weave in some moral dilemmas and you’ve got great opportunities to teach values to them. It certainly beats lecturing your kids!
   
   
2. Live your own life according to your values—walk the talk.
   Kids learn by imitating, especially at a young age. They are very adept at seeing if what you say and what you do are matching up. Don’t give them confusing signals; follow your own values every moment.
   
3. Expose them to your religion or faith
   It seems especially important today to let them know that they’re not alone. Providing your kids with a community of faith will strengthen their values and provide parents some “leverage”
   
4. Pay attention to who else might be teaching values to your kids
   Get to know your child’s teachers, coaches, relatives, etc. Anyone who spends time with your kids may be influencing them. Know their values and beliefs as well.
   
5. Ask your kids questions that will stimulate dialogue about values
   Telling them what values they should have won’t always be effective, especially when your kids get older. Asking them “curious” questions will allow discussions that will eventually lead to values. “What did you think about that fight,” may be more effective than, “He shouldn’t have started that fight!”
   
6. Talk to them about values in a relaxed and easy way
   Nothing will turn your kids off more than preaching values to them after they’ve screwed up! Talk to them when everyone’s relaxed, and do it in a light, conversational manner. They’ll be much more likely to be listening rather than tuning you out.
   
7. Read them fairy tales when they’re younger
   Fairy tales capture the imagination of kids and can easily lead to a discussion of values. Kids will learn the most concerning values when they’re excited about the topic.
   
8. Involve your kids in art, activities, or helping others while limiting TV and video games
   Kids learn values when they experience them. Allow them to experience helping others and involve them in activities that will expand their creativity.
   
9. Have frequent conversations about values in your household
   This lets your kids know that it’s important and it’s not just something you talk about when they do something wrong.
   
10. Have high expectations for your kids’ value systems
    Kids will tend to rise to the level of expectation you have for them. Their value system will often reflect yours if the expectations are high.
    
    http://www.thoughts-about-god.com

The Easter Story - from the Bible taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible from the Gospel of Mark Chapter s14-16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it"  (John 3:16-17).
The Last Supper (Mark chapter 14)
So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.
In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples.  As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said,

"The truth is, one of you will betray Me, one of you who is here eating with Me."

Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask Him, "I'm not the one, am I?"

He replied,

"It is one of you twelve, one who is eating with Me now.  For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago.  But how terrible it will be for My betrayer.  Far better for him if he had never been born!"

As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it.  Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,

"Take it, for this is My body."

And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.  He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them,

"This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people.  I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God." 

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said,

"Sit here while I go and pray."

He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be filled with horror and deep distress.  He told them,

"My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.  Stay here and watch with Me."

He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass him by.

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for You.  Please take this cup of suffering away from Me.  Yet I want Your will, not Mine."

Then He returned and found the disciples asleep.

"Simon!" He said to Peter.  "Are you asleep?  Couldn't you stay awake and watch with Me even one hour?  Keep alert and pray.  Otherwise temptation will overpower you.  For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."

Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating His pleadings.

Again He returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open.  And they didn't know what to say.  When He returned to them the third time, He said,

"Still sleeping?  Still resting?  Enough!  The time has come.   I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Up, let's be going.  See, My betrayer is here!"

Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
And immediately, as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs.  They had been sent out by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law and the other leaders.  Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give Him the kiss of greeting.  Then you can take Him away under guard."
As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus.  "Teacher!" he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss.  Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.  But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant.  Jesus asked them,

"Am I some dangerous criminal, that you come armed with swords and clubs to arrest Me?  Why didn't you arrest Me in the Temple?  I was there teaching every day.  But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about Me."

Meanwhile, all His disciples deserted Him and ran away.  There was a young man following along behind, clothed only in a linen nightshirt.  When the mob tried to grab him, they tore off his clothes, but he escaped and ran away naked.

Jesus is Crucified (Mark chapter 15 )
So Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them.  He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify Him.  They dressed Him in a purple robe and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His head.  Then they saluted, yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!"  And they beat Him on the head with a stick, spit on Him and dropped to their knees in mock worship.  When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again.  Then they led Him away to be crucified.
A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.  And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Hill).  They offered Him wine drugged with myrrh, but He refused it.  Then they nailed Him to the cross.  They gambled for His clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them.
It was nine o'clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place.  A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against Him.  It read: "The King of the Jews."  Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His.  And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery.  "Ha! Look at you now!" they yelled at Him. "You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you?  Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus.  "He saved others," they scoffed, "but He can't save himself!  Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him!"  Even the two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus ridiculed Him.
The Death of Jesus
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock.  Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice,

"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a stick so he could drink.  "Leave Him alone.  Let's see whether Elijah will come and take Him down!" he said.
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last.  And the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, he exclaimed, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph) and Salome.  They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for Him while He was in Galilee.  Then they and many other women had come with Him to Jerusalem.
The Burial of Jesus
This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath.  As evening approached, an honored member of the high council, Joseph from Arimathea (who was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come), gathered his courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus' body.  Pilate couldn't believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman military officer in charge and asked him.  The officer confirmed the fact, and Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.  Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth, and taking Jesus' body down from the cross, he wrapped it in the cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock.  Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus' body was laid.
The Resurrection - Jesus Is Risen! (Mark chapter 16 )
The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus' body.  Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb.  On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb.  But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone - a very large one - had already been rolled aside.  So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe.  The women were startled, but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised.  You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here!  He has been raised from the dead!  Look, this is where they laid His body.  Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.  You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died!"  The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.
It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw Him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping.  But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they didn't believe her.
Afterward He appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn't recognize Him at first because He had changed His appearance.  When they realized who He was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together.  He rebuked them for their unbelief - their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
And then He told them,

"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.  Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.  But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.  These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name, and they will speak new languages.  They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them.  They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them."

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand.  And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
God loves you so much that He send His son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. After His resurrection and ascension into heaven, He sent His Spirit to live in our lives and empower us to live the abundant life.  But we must personally ask Him into our lives to be our Lord and Savior.  If you are sincere about asking Him into your life, why don't you pray the suggested prayer below:
(Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not as concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.)

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.

http://www.thoughts-about-god.com

Ayo Berikan Lebih Banyak Pelukan ke Anak

Tahun baru selalu identik dengan resolusi baru. Banyak orang membuat resolusi untuk dijalankan sepanjang tahun 2015. Resolusi tersebut bisa terkait kehidupan sehari-hari, keuangan, bahkan dalam hal pengasuhan anak.

Kira-kira resolusi pengasuhan anak apa yang bisa dipertahankan dan diubah di tahun ini. Berikut paparannya, seperti  dilansir dari laman Huffingtonpost.

Kurangi berteriak

Sangat sulit untuk menjaga nada normal ketika anak berbuat ulah. Misalnya saat ia mencoret tembok, saat anak tak mau mandi atau ketika ananda tak mau makan. Rasanya kesabaran membujuk dengan nada normal sudah habis dan berteriak menjadi solusinya.

Tapi, tahun ini sebaiknya Anda kurangi kebiasaan berteriak. Cobalah lebih sabar menghadapi anak Anda dan berbicara pada anak dengan nada normal. Jika sedang marah dan ingin berteriak, tariklah napas dalam-dalam, kemudian hempaskan. Lalu berusaha bersikap wajar. Karena anak akan lebih mendengarkan Anda jika Anda berbicara lebih halus tanpa teriak.

Lebih sering memuji anak

Jika anak berbuat sesuatu yang benar dan Anda menyukainya, tak ada salahnya Anda memujinya. Lebih sering memuji akan membuat anak termotivasi melakukan hal baik selanjutnya karena merasa senang mendapatkan pujian dari Anda. Misalnya, ketika anak membereskan mainannya, katakan padanya,”Wah anak pintar, membereskan mainnya sendiri.” Atau ketika anak sedang mau makan dan lahap. Berikan pula pujian padanya.

Berikan banyak pelukan

Seberapa sering Anda menyentuh anak tahun lalu? Terkadang Anda sering melupakan tindakan sederhana seperti memeluk anak ini. padahal dengan pelukan anak Anda akan merasa nyaman, terlindungi dan disayang oleh orang tuanya. Selain itu, hormon oksitosin dari pelukan juga memberikan manfaat baik, anak yang pemarah akan berubah menjadi penyayang jika orang tua sering memberikan pelukan.

Katakan cinta setiap saat

Selain bentuk tindakan, bentuk perkataan yang baik dan lembut juga akan menyentuh hati anak Anda. Rajin-rajinlah mengatakan Anda mencintai dan menyayangi buah hati Anda. Jika perlu setiap pagi dan malam hari. Ketika anak baru bangun tidur dan menjelang tidur. Ini akan membuat anak merasa nyaman. Katakan ketika Anda sedang berdua dengan anak.

http://www.republika.co.id

Ancaman dan Hukuman Justru Memicu Anak Berbohong

Jika Anda ingin anak selalu berkata jujur, cara terbaik bukan dengan memberikan ancaman atau hukuman jika mereka berbohong.

Kesimpulan itu didapat melalui penelitian yang melibatkan 372 anak berusia antara 4-8 tahun. Para ahli menemukan bahwa anak tidak akan berkata jujur jika mereka takut atau dihukum. Mereka justru akan memilih untuk berbohong agar orang tua merasa senang sehingga mereka pun akan merasa lega.

"Pokoknya, hukuman tidak akan membuat anak berkata jujur," kata kepala penelitian Victoria Talwar dari McGill University, seperti dikutip dari Times of India.

"Faktanya, ancaman dan hukuman memiliki dampak yang justru tidak diharapkan. Anak akan merasa takut untuk berkata jujur," katanya.

Dalam studi itu, tim peneliti menempatkan seorang anak di dalam sebuah ruangan selama 1 menit bersama dengan mainan yang diletakkan di belakang mereka. Anak-anak diminta untuk tidak berbalik atau mengintip mainan tersebut.

Sebuah video kamera tersembunyi merekam perilaku mereka. Ketika para ahli kembali, anak-anak ditanyakan apakah mereka mengintip atau tidak. Ketika ditanya apakah mereka mengintip, 67% anak berbohong.

Peneliti menemukan anak yang lebih kecil cenderung berbohong untuk membuat orang dewasa merasa senang, sedangkan anak yang berusia lebih tua merasa harus jujur karena mereka sadar itu adalah tindakan yang benar.

"Informasi ini sangat berguna bagi para orang tua dan tenaga pengajar agar mendorong anak untuk senantiasa berkata jujur," kata Talwar. Studi ini telah dipublikasikan dalam Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 

http://rona.metrotvnews.com 

Stop Memuji Anak Terlalu Berlebih, Ini Dampaknya

Memuji anak memang suatu hal penting, tetapi ketika memuji anak terlalu berlebih, hal ini malah akan berdampak buruk bagi mental dan perkembangan anak. Berikut hal-hal yang dapat terjadi ketika orangtua terlalu berlebihan saat menyanjung anak.

1. Memanipulasi anak
Pujian adalah ekspresi menggambarkan bersikap saat seseorang mencapai sesuatu sesuai kehendak masing-masing. Nah, jika Anda teralu banyak memuji, anak akan mengharapkan pujian atau sanjungan bukan hanya dari Anda, tetapi juga dari orang lain. Hal ini akan membuat mereka jadi arogan, atau malah sebaliknya kurang percaya diri jika tak ada yang memujinya.

2. Menurunkan minat
Sebuah penelitian menunjukan bahwa orang yang dipuji atas perbuatan yang dilakukannya, malah akan kekurangan minat pada hal itu. Teori ini juga berlaku pada anak-anak, jangan sampai pujian berlebih dari Anda malah membuatnya cepat puas dan mudah beralih perhatian sehingga menyebabkan mereka tidak fokus.

3. Berbunyi sarkasme
Salah-salah ketika Anda terlalu banyak memuji anak, ungkapan yang Anda berikan malah terdengar seperti sebuah sarkasme atau ejekan. Terutama bila anak merasa perbuatannya tak seharusnya dipuji, atau tak puas dengan hasil pekerjaanya. Berkata jujur jauh lebih baik untuk membangun semangat anak yang lebih positif.

4. Membebani anak
Studi terbaru mengungkapkan ketika anak dipuji saat melaksanakan sebuah tugas, ia malah akan mudah gagal karena beban psikologis yang dirasa untuk harus tampil sempurna dan memenuhi pujian yang telah diterima.


Namun, bukan berarti ayah dan ibu jadi pelit pujian pada anak. Intinya, berikan pujian dan sanjungan yang pantas serta tulus untuk si kecil. Dengan demikian, mereka juga jadi bisa membedakan mana prestasi yang benar-benar membanggakan dan mana yang tidak. 

http://female.kompas.com