PARENTING September 13, 2004 Issue

When I heard the news reports ...

BY Judy Olson

Some years ago, a national news story on drugs and teens focused on our community and the infiltration of illegal drugs into our middle schools. As a result, parents were stirred to action.

The story certainly alerted me, mother at the time of two middle-schoolers. Like all parents, I wanted to be on the solution side. However, the drug-awareness forum that the Parent-Teacher Association promptly put together only seemed to frighten people further. I asked myself, "How can I best be an influence for good in this situation?" And the answer that came to me was, "Pray."

For starters, I turned to my tried-and-true parents' guidebook—the Bible. Passages from two psalms really helped.