The repeated admonition as school starts back is, “Be kind.” Undoubtedly, this is critically important and a deeply Biblical premise. Be kind because every person is made in the image of God. Parents, it’s crucial to instill the value of kindness in our children. In a world where kindness is a rare commodity, our little ones, and even the older ones, need it. 

May I challenge you further? It is so much more than simply “Be kind.” 

Christian parents, our admonition to our children is more complex: “Be like Christ.”

¹ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:1-11, ESV). 

What does Christ-likeness look like? 

Be humble like Jesus. Not everything is about you, the world does not spin on your whims, and the sun and moon do not rise according to your wishes. However, I am a child of God Most High, and it is His name I want to make known, not mine. 

Be a servant like Jesus. As we appreciate the previous point, we look for ways to stoop and serve others instead of seeing how everyone should stoop and serve us. Christ exemplified this humble servant disposition. Encourage your kiddos to see how they can serve someone else “just because”; this works at home and school. Yes, this means that even when others are not kind, we still are and serve. Jesus served all, even the unkind, by going to the cross. Parents, you set the example for this behavior. 

Be sacrificial like Jesus. The two previous points are hard to do without some self-sacrifice. As loyal servants of the King, we must demonstrate the same disposition as our King. What a blessing to have the start of school and a seemingly endless occasion to be humble, sacrificial servants for the King. 

Be constantly pointing to King Jesus. Toward the end of one of the highest Christological points in the Bible, we glimpse the exalted King and all people called into judgment before His throne (vv. 9-11). We must keep everything this school year in perspective.It is terrible to watch parents quickly unravel as the school year commences, and everything in life revolves around the school: grades, athletics, trips, fundraisers, etc. All those things are wonderful, beneficial, and educational; however, they are also completely, entirely, and undeniably temporal in nature. In far too many cases, they become the “cares… of the world” that “choke the word” and prevent growth, maturation, and authentic discipleship. Instead, use those opportunities to further their spiritual education, not as spiritual hindrances. 

Yes, parents, encourage kindness. But more, so much more, encourage Christ-likeness.