The Good Keeper

Turn to Psalm 23 again today as you look toward welcoming your child home. Read it through a couple of times slowly, remembering what God has shown you this week. Spend some time enjoying His company.

God faithfully provides, protects, and preserves us — guiding us through every season into His lasting presence.

Whether your student wants to talk for hours over pizza tonight or sleep for a long time, create some margin over the next two or three days while their experience is fresh to be available to listen as they begin to process camp.

Plan several individual times with your camper over the next few days and weeks. Take a picnic to a nearby lake; go for milkshakes or coffee; or plan a favorite outdoor activity together. The point isn't the activities — it's intentional time together with room for hangout time, laughter, thoughtful questions, and listening.

• Continue the camp journey by memorizing Psalm 23 together. Come up with creative prizes.
• Build a natural daily or weekly habit of praying together as a family beyond mealtimes.
• Set reminders to pray every day for your child's heart to be tender and responsive to the Lord.

Taking the Long View: You are in the launch phase of parenting. Above all we want our children to love and respond to the Good Shepherd, Jesus — to hear His voice louder than any other. We can't give our children salvation, but we can point them to Jesus through conversation, prayer, worship, Bible verses, encouragement, repentance, and gratitude.