Life Lessons Taught

Matthew and Jordan enjoy playing Legos and Barbies.  While they play I have found great opportunities to teach some life lessons on what the Bible says about certain topics.  These topics usually include marriage, living together and what clothes are appropriate to wear.

In our present day, it seems as though some or all of these topics, if left untaught at home are left vague or skewed in the minds and hearts of our children.  Teaching them what is right in the eyes of the Lord is what our kids need as they are hit with opposing views all around them.  We can help them be confident when they are face to face with decisions about how to conduct themselves in the world we live in.

Lord, thank You for giving us Your Word as the lamp to our feet (and our kids' feet) and the light to the path You want us to go in.  Please help us to prepare our children to live in the world but not be sucked into the popular views held all around them.  Prepare their hearts to receive Your Word so they can live to give You glory.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Overcoming Bickering

This week our four-year old has off from VPK but joins Matthew (six) and me in a special week learning about the Passion week of Christ (the week before Jesus was crucified).  One of the days we read from Luke 22:7-30 to learn more about “Holy Thursday,” the night of The Last Supper.  We read how our Savior poured out His heart to His disciples, letting them in on the great plan and what they could pass along to other generations to do in remembrance of Jesus.  But during this holy moment His disciples were…BICKERING! 

Does this resonate with real moms out there?!

There you are – in the moment – you just got done saying the last word of an awesome devotion for your kids where you thought they were SO attentive and it REALLY got through…. AND THEN… they start to BICKER!!

But here is where I focused my attention:  What was Jesus’ response?  Did He stand up, bang His hand on the table and yell in frustration at His disciples’ selfishness?! No, He didn’t.  Even with His betrayer RIGHT THERE, He simply responded in love and compassion.  He knows our frailty and tendency to think of ourselves before others.  He had the perfect story on hand for just such an occasion (see vs. 24-30).

Even though it didn’t seem like Jesus really got through to the disciples at that time, it is written in the Bible so WE can learn from His teaching.  And wouldn’t you know I got to use this illustration with our kids as they bickered over Legos not long after we read this awesome Bible story. 

The Lord is good and gracious. 

Thank You, my God for supplying me with what I needed at just the right time.

Mommas, read your Bible out-loud to your kids and ask them questions.  Apply it in their lives so they can relate to the story.  Maybe make hand-puppets out of socks or paper bags and put on a play.  Also, have these stories in your “back pocket” to use in everyday teaching moments.