Tag Archive for team

Compassion? A Game?

Here’s a new game for gamers and the rest of us.  It’s a game designed to put more than our console-fingers to work.  The idea is “to make our communities safer, kinder, more just, and better places to live.”  I’m talking about the Compassion  Games.  Anyone can participate from anywhere.

For details, including how to join a team and play, go to http://compassiongames.org.

Child Health–a Good Day

It’s the First Monday in October, meaning it’s National Child Health Day.  It’s a day established in 1928 to promote our children’s physical health, but why not focus on their mental and emotional well-being, too? We can play a few active games with them, take a walk or bike ride together, or team up to clean up the garden. We can also spend some extra time with them, maybe having a little picnic in the backyard, doing some chores together and complementing them on their help, giving them a few extra hugs, talking to them, one-on-one, about friends, school, activities they’re involved in or a movie you saw together or an incident when you both saw someone acting as a bully. Yes, these are things we should be doing every day with our children. But this is a great day to redouble our efforts–for the good of our children.

How this Church Stretched a Dollar and Saved Lives

This Indiana church turned $1 contributions into $4 million. It stared with a Dollar Club–people giving a single dollar each quarter. The money helps foster families and people with health-cost burdens and others needing help. Then they teamed up with a charity, then with RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit that pays off crushing medical debt for people in dire need.

It’s an interesting story. Read more about it in this CNN article.

Be a Team Player

One of the least-loving places we visit is where our child’s team competes.  Be it soccer or softball, you’ve sat in the stands, cringing when a parent cusses at the referee or some adult encourages fighting or intentional injury, either directly or indirectly by non-verbal approval when it happens.  This can be an opportunity for you to be a good example to your child, the teams, and the adults who aren’t acting like good role models.

There are many things you can do.  Ask that man not to use ethnic slurs around your kids.  Find something during the game to compliment the small, awkward child on the team.

If your child acts with violence, make sure your language (body and verbal) clearly indicates your disapproval.  In front of other adults and the team, express your appreciation to the referee for his time and fairness.  When you leave, have your child help you dispose of your family’s trash, plus what was left by people around you.  Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open; you’ll find ways to be an example that your kids can look up to.

Can Compassion be a Game?

Here’s a new game for gamers and the rest of us.  It’s a game designed to put more than our console-fingers to work.  The idea is “to make our communities safer, kinder, more just, and better places to live.”  I’m talking about the Compassion  Games.  Anyone can participate from anywhere.

For details, including how to join a team, go to http://compassiongames.org.