It is June in Texas and it is "Hot and "Humid" in Houston and Dallas. The weather forecasters indicate that this has been one of the wettest June's on record. As I reflected on their comments I was struck by the way we, as human s, constantly measure things. We can't help it. It seems we are always comparing things, events, and people to an ideal or opposites. Comparisons are not bad things. But, I suspect they sometimes get in the way of our stepping back from the business and busyness of life and simply enjoying each event, thing, and person for their uniqueness and beauty. I have found in the smiles of my grandson and granddaughter that there is no need to measure. The lives of our children and grandchildren are without measure. I am thankful for 'Hot and Humid" summer afternoons and their potential for a slower pace to appreciate these things. I wish and pray for you the opportunities for these precious moments this summer.

Don't forget: New Training DVDs are available: ARK Facilitator Training, The ARK Group Process and an Introduction to the Course hosted by Pat Summerall. Order yours today at www.thearkgroup.org. This excellent training guide will supplement the ARK lessons DVD's, manuals, workbooks, texts and advertising materials -- equipping you to begin ARK programs today. ARK programs provide breakthrough parenting and teaching "skills courses." With your help, we can make ARKRelationships the norm for the 21st century family, church, school and community".

For our Friends and Followers in the Dallas area, we are excited about our ARK for Churches Programs / with our next Facilitator Training set for June 30. Thanks to a wonderful gift by a local benefactor, we are able to provide ARK for Parents Programs to local churches. The program includes facilitator training, lessons on DVDs, books, and a host of supporting materials and services. We invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Contact us today by e-mail, letter or by telephone in Dallas at 817- 268-2100 or Houston at 281-537-1301 to reserve a spot for your church. The seminars will take place at a central location in the 1800 block of North Washington Ave thanks to the generosity of Dr. Curtis Wallace and the Pilgrim's Rest Baptist Church. Commit now, to enable your church family to become the parents and intentional adults in the lives of children that will change the world through your care.

We at the ARKGroup have observed the impact of "volunteerism" not only for the changes it brings to the individual but in enriching the community environment. We have observed that Teachers indicate a "brighter" optimism and seemingly experience less stress when they have Parents engaging in school events and exercises with their children. Additionally, we hear more Teacher comments about their efforts being more rewarding and meaningful where schools have daily volunteers helping in the hallways,on the playgrounds and with after-school mentoring. I suspect they sense they are appreciated for contributions that are "immeasurable" in the quality of life they promote for their students' futures.

As I reflect on the spirit of volunteerism in our neighborhood schools, I am reminded of the wisdom I see with every visit I make to the classrooms. I am always overjoyed by our teachers who see each child as a "light" of goodness and a source of love for our communities. Their teaching models -- which are boosted by school volunteers -- of compassion, care and encouragement create wonder, questioning and growth opportunities in their students. We invite all of Friends of ARK to plan now on ways they might "volunteer" this Fall at their neighborhood school. We know it will benefit our nation's children. As importantly, it will make possible a more physically, emotionally and mentally healthy you.

We at the ARKGroup are convinced that adults can begin today to nurture the life of a single child (their own, a neighbor's, one in our classes or in our neighborhoods) and with each tomorrow, the world will be changed, opportunities will develop, and life will be more fulfilled. We encourage you to volunteer. We suspect that you have been waiting for someone to ask. Call us. We will be happy to help.

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Empathy implies that we appreciate the emotions of the experience as seen through the eyes of the child in the experience. For example:

• Asking a child to share their new bicycle ....
• Could that be compared to your loaning your new car to a neighbor for a road trip?
• or
• the loss of a special stuffed animal for your four old...
• Can you compare that to the 2000 drop in the Stock Market in the value of your retirement account?

To your child, that bicycle or stuffed animal may have the same life meaning that the car or retirement account has to you.

Little things, tiny incidents and small issues that seem inconsequential to us are different matters for our children. They are truly big stuff.

Empathy can help us here. Empathy is about sharing the sense of loss when loss occurs with our children. Sharing loss is different that understanding loss. It involves "laughing or crying with them", rather than trying to analyze it or explain it away in adult terms. It is about appreciating their true sorrow when "their lives and things" are in the true sense lost to them.

When we are able to do that as parents, neighbors and grandparents, our ability to model appropriate behavior for our children to follow whether it be sharing, learning, or living a life of joy and caring is truly possible.

I am reminded of an incident with my grandson and his mother. He had carefully worked in Sunday school to create the perfect Easter egg this past Spring. He was so excited when he cand heame to pick him up that he ran from the classroom to show them his creation of love. By accident he fell and the egg was broken and he burst into tears. His Dad at once held him and said that it was ok and that it did not matter, like we Dads tend to do. But his Mother ran to him and held him and cried with him at the loss of the egg. Empathy is not about making it better or solved, but sharing with your child their real emotions and feelings in their lives. When we are better able to do that as parents, we get a glimpse of the unconditional life, and how the possibilities are unlimited to help a child to grow and develop in a foundation of unconditional love.

We want to know how you help your youngsters to share and to learn the values of volunteerism. How do you do it? What are your suggestions to share with this very large community of thinkers and doers? What ways can you share to make tomorrow an even greater opportunity for our children's futures?

Please share your ideas and read on...

How do we go about being a good parent? A major aspect of great parenting has to do with developing our children's sense of self-esteem. The way a child feels about himself dictates the manner in which she views the world around her. A child's positive sense of self greatly sets their perception of their world as friendly, hospitable and full of promise and hope. Helping a child to value herself is one of the greatest gifts that a parent can provide.

Research conducted by The ARKGroup with the University of Texas Health Science Center at the Houston Medical Center has shown the connection between a child's sense of self-esteem and her receiving unconditional love from the primary adults (parents and teachers) in her life.

When a child feels loved for who he is rather that what he does, he is enabled to value himself in spite of his imperfections. This gift of unconditional love is the key to high self- esteem. It is the primary element in creating a quality, courageous life.

At the ARKGroup, we are dedicated to education and to the sharing of processes that create networks of support and the opportunity for creativity through "new ideas" shared from the experiences of others that will keep our children healthy. Our programs can make available a number of strategies in your parenting or teaching toolsets that will result in resilient and loved children whose lifestyles are full and are characterized by feelings of compassion, satisfaction, happiness and fulfillment.

We encourage all church families to begin ARK for Parenting classes in their local congregations. ARK Parenting is for "Great Parents" who want to be even better at the most difficult but most treasured job in life; raising children who can be all that is possible for them in God's Cosmos.

Check out this websit for Kid Friendly Films ideas

• Become a program sponsor by funding an ARK for Teachers Program in School Districts: Electronic Packages for $950.
• Funding an ARK for Parents Program in Schools, Community Centers, Churches, Neighborhood Centers, Sunday Schools, Youth Centers: Facilitator Training Programs for $500.
• Purchasing individual manuals for $30 each to support organizations who need materials.
• Purchasing ARK for Kids or Teens workbooks for $30 each for deserving kids' networks.

Your support of The ARKGroup, Inc. creates possibilities in our churches, community centers, and public schools. If you have an opportunity, idea, challenge, or destiny to fulfill through helping children to grow into their full potential, please contact us. Together we can improve the quality of life in our communities--one child, one family, one classroom, one school at a time. Helping other people lifts one's spirits and gives hope for the future.

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