What better New Year's Resolution

than this?

It comes from our national

Lutheran Church and is available in seven different forms (school, workplace,

etc) on the Web at www.elca.org .

But I believe the best place

to start is in our own families. I invite you to take this to your next

"family meeting," talk about it, and seriously take the pledge.

Family Pledge of Nonviolence

Making peace must start within

ourselves and in our family.

Each of us, members of the

___________ family, commit ourselves as best we can to become nonviolent

and peaceable people:

To respect self and others.

To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful

words, physical attacks and self-destructive behavior.

To communicate better.

To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my anger,

and to work at solving problems peacefully.

To listen. To listen

carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me, and to

consider others' feelings and needs rather than insist on having my own

way.

To forgive. To apologize

and make amends when I have hurt another, to forgive others, and to keep

from holding grudges.

To respect nature. To

treat the environment and all living things, including our pets, with

respect and care.

To play creatively.

To select entertainment and toys that support our family's values and

to avoid entertainment that makes violence look exciting, funny or acceptable.

To be courageous. To

challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at

home, at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others

who are treated unfairly.

This is our pledge. These are

our goals. We will check ourselves on what we have pledged once a month

for the next twelve months, so that we can help each other become more

peaceable people.

Pledging family members sign

below.

_________________________

"Eliminating violence,

one family at a time, starting with our own."

Justin Kollmeyer is senior

pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Ga. Highway 314 in Fayetteville,

between Lowe's and Fayette Pavilion. The community is invited to Sunday

worship at 8:00, 9:30 (Contemporary), and 11:15 a.m. For more information,

log on at www.popdove.com , or call 770-461-3403.

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