All parents wonder if they are doing the right thing. None of us have all the answers. The good news is we're given the Holy Spirit as a helper and guide. Here's some helpful tips to position you and your kids to grow together in your spiritual lives.
You are your child's most influential spiritual resource.
That can be a terrifying thought, but living into it is also incredibly fun. When you model healthy spiritual practice for your kids, you help them become well adjusted, happy and healthy members of a community. You teach them about service, integrity, honesty, responsibility, peace, equality, justice, humility, purpose, and much more.
But where do you begin?
Here are some habits to begin trying out. Incorporate them slowly into your daily life with your children. Don’t try to do them all at once. They become habits by slowly developing and continually working towards a goal.
But where do you begin?
Here are some habits to begin trying out. Incorporate them slowly into your daily life with your children. Don’t try to do them all at once. They become habits by slowly developing and continually working towards a goal.
GET PRAYING
Go for a prayer walk as a family and use this guide to pray as you notice the world around you.
Create a prayer list that is age appropriate for your child. Choose short prayers and different times throughout the day. (Ex. First thing in the morning, pray for your upcoming day and those you will meet. At lunch, pray for your family. At dinner, reflect on your day and pray for some you struggled to get along with today. At bedtime, reflect where you saw God working and thank Him that He is always working.)
Most kids enjoy using movement in prayer. You can teach them about different prayer postures such as: head bowed, eyes closed, head up, hands lifted up, holding hands, sitting, walking or running, or kneeling. It’s amazing how prayer postures change how we pray or feel about praying.
Create a prayer list that is age appropriate for your child. Choose short prayers and different times throughout the day. (Ex. First thing in the morning, pray for your upcoming day and those you will meet. At lunch, pray for your family. At dinner, reflect on your day and pray for some you struggled to get along with today. At bedtime, reflect where you saw God working and thank Him that He is always working.)
Most kids enjoy using movement in prayer. You can teach them about different prayer postures such as: head bowed, eyes closed, head up, hands lifted up, holding hands, sitting, walking or running, or kneeling. It’s amazing how prayer postures change how we pray or feel about praying.
GET IN THE WORD
Spend time reading a small passage of scripture each day as a family. Keep it short and allow kids to ask questions. By keeping it short, it will get them excited to hear more the next day.
Pick a memory verse for each week. Try to recite it together at meal times. Create fun rewards for those who can remember it. Go beyond memorization and talk about what the verse means to you.
Teach your child how to journal. Buy them their own journal that is special to them and have them (and yourself) write in it daily. Encourage them to use this time to reflect on what God is teaching them each day.
Pick a memory verse for each week. Try to recite it together at meal times. Create fun rewards for those who can remember it. Go beyond memorization and talk about what the verse means to you.
Teach your child how to journal. Buy them their own journal that is special to them and have them (and yourself) write in it daily. Encourage them to use this time to reflect on what God is teaching them each day.
GET TOGETHER
Find a time each day to gather as a family. Meals are especially easy to do. Talk and enjoy each other.
Spend time each day talking about your day. Talk about things you enjoyed, things that made you angry, things that made you sad, and things that made you happy.
Spend time each day talking about where you saw God working in the day. Maybe in helping you deal with your thoughts and emotions. Maybe in nature. Maybe in others who are working hard to keep others safe. God is in all of that.
Spend time each day talking about your day. Talk about things you enjoyed, things that made you angry, things that made you sad, and things that made you happy.
Spend time each day talking about where you saw God working in the day. Maybe in helping you deal with your thoughts and emotions. Maybe in nature. Maybe in others who are working hard to keep others safe. God is in all of that.
GET MOVING
Exercise in some way. Go for a walk or bike ride. Play tag outside. Find a fun video and dance. Find a video game that encourages movement and play as a family.
Be creative. Make a gift or card or picture for someone that you miss seeing or who is not able to get out to see others. Find their address and mail it to them.
Be creative. Make a gift or card or picture for someone that you miss seeing or who is not able to get out to see others. Find their address and mail it to them.
GET UNPLUGGED
Practice Sabbath - a day of rest to remember God's provision. God gave the Sabbath as a gift to rest and say "no" to other activities. Simply be together as a family and do not fill your time with anything else. Let the day happen but be together and invite God to be with you. Rest. Remember that God is your provider.
Have a time each day to listen to your favorite worship music. Have it playing in the background or stop what you are doing and really practice worshiping. Dance. Raise your hands. Sing loudly. Simply listen. Show your children what authentic worship looks like and have them join in the way they see fit.
Practice fasting - intentionally cut out something from your life. It can be from food or drink. It can also be from technology or media. Choose anything that means a lot to you. Use the time you would normally spend doing that activity and use it to connect with God. Start small. Maybe skip your normal lunch time and read the Bible and drink a large glass of water. Maybe avoid watching TV for an hour and pray instead.
Have a time each day to listen to your favorite worship music. Have it playing in the background or stop what you are doing and really practice worshiping. Dance. Raise your hands. Sing loudly. Simply listen. Show your children what authentic worship looks like and have them join in the way they see fit.
Practice fasting - intentionally cut out something from your life. It can be from food or drink. It can also be from technology or media. Choose anything that means a lot to you. Use the time you would normally spend doing that activity and use it to connect with God. Start small. Maybe skip your normal lunch time and read the Bible and drink a large glass of water. Maybe avoid watching TV for an hour and pray instead.
GET OUT AND SERVE
No matter the situation, we're called to love others as Christ loved us. If you're looking for ways to love your community while social distancing, check out the prompts below to join us as we serve others.
See below for some ideas for outreach:
See below for some ideas for outreach:
- Send a card to a nursing home saying how much you miss those who cannot leave.
- Send a note to the hospital telling medical workers you appreciate them and are praying for them.
- Put a note/bottle of sanitizer/wipes/treats in your mailbox for your mail carrier.
- Get a gift card to give to an essential worker next time you're at a store or business that is still open.
- Get a giftcard or other gift for someone you know who is currently laid off.
- Prayer walk your neighborhood and pray for each house. Offer to pray with neighbors who are outside as well.
- Get a gift card or gift for a high school senior or college student you know. (Also, students transitioning to other buildings next school year; it will be an awkward time for them).
- Walk your neighborhood or local trail or park and pick up garbage.