Saturday, December 15, 2012

For My Eighth Graders.....



"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 16:33

100 Ways to Create a Peaceful World

1.     Breathe deeply.
2.     Stand for something. 
3.     Have courage to be who you are. 
4.     Have empathy to help OTHERS be who THEY are.
5.     Play fair.        
6.     Hug your mom.
7.      And your dad. 
8.     Invite someone new to eat lunch with you. 
9.     “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.
10. Speak carefully.
11. Do your homework.  Do it right
12. Exercise your body.
13. Exercise your mind.
14. Sign the pledge at http://www.r-word.org/
16. Play a game with your little sister.  Don’t whine about it.
17. Talk to a kindergartener on the playground.
18. Twirl the jumprope for a child.
20.  Forgive someone.  And forget about it.
21. Listen to your parents.
22. Listen to your priest.
23. Keep your hands to yourself.
24. Study during your study hall.
25. “You have heard that it was said,x ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” Matthew 5:38-39.
26. Sign up to learn about peace-building at http://www.buildingpeace.org/user
27. Stay off Facebook.
28. Don’t fight back.  Walk away.
29. Smile at someone on the bus. Especially the driver.
30. Choose your words carefully.
31. Find out what it takes to earn the Nobel Peace prize at http://www.buildingpeace.org/act-build-peace/learn/famous-peacebuilders-quiz
32. Earn the peace prize in your family, your classroom, and within your group of friends.
33. “Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.  Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:36-37.
34. Say YES to your parents.
35. Choose your words carefully with your friends.
36. Tell the truth.
37. TRY YOUR HARDEST.  In everything. And ALL THE TIME.
38. Pick up some trash: at the lake, at Weiss field, on your street.
39. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25
40. Have faith: in God, in YOURSELF, in your family.
41. Use your church envelope.
42. Put your own money in it.
44. Play fair.
45. Clean out your closet.  Give the good stuff to someone who can use it.
46. Tell your friends you appreciate them.
47. Smile at someone you don’t know.
48. WANT to be closer to God.
49. WORK ON being closer to God.
51. Accept people: what they wear, what they say, who they are. Especially the ones in your class, on your team, in your house.
52. Study a new language.
53. Learn about a foreign country.
54. Rejoice with your friends’ victories.
55. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.f 8For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8.
56. Ask for grace and answers.  Listen to the message you receive.
57. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.i Matthew 7-12
58. Share your good stuff.
59. Go to http://www.aalcrs.org/how-you-can-help.html#donate_goods and donate to Avon Lake CRS.
60. Vacuum your house.
61. Vacuum your grandma’s house.
62. Pay it forward: buy someone dinner without getting repaid.
63. Do something great that no one will ever find out about.
65. Bring life to your classroom.  Say good morning, smile, encourage your mates.
67. Believe that the good guys in the white hats will always win.
68. Be the good guy.
69. Do your schoolwork with integrity. 
70. Keep your answers to yourself.
71. Listen to your friend and his problems.
73. Go to adoration.
74. Seek quiet.
75. Be tough. Be vulnerable, Know that God is in charge.
77. Care for the marginalized.
78. Stand up to a bully.
80. Be nice to the lunch monitor.
81. Clean up your own garbage. 
82. Push in your own chair.  And your friend’s.
83. Exert positive peer pressure.
84.  Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8.
85. Love one another. ESPECIALLY those who are difficult.
87. Help your friends make good choices.
88. Listen.
89. Tell an adult if something is not right.
90. Sign this petition to stop bullying.  http://www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/#/home
91. Don’t talk behind someone’s back.
92. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
93. Stay clear of violent video games and television shows.
94. Volunteer at Vikings Club or a local nursing home.
95. Study. Sweat. Pray.
96. Work to your potential.
97. Believe YOU have the power to change the world.
98. Be responsible.
99. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philipians 4:6-7
100. Cultivate patience.



“If you want peace, work for justice.” Pope Paul VI

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I hope you don't mind if I steal this!