When prayer is part of your daily routine, your kids learn the value of going to God with the little and the big things.
By Cheri Fuller
Teach Your Child to Pray
When prayer is a natural part of your day-to-day routine, your kids learn the value of going to God with little things as well as the big things.
- Help your kids see things around them as visual aids to prompt prayer. If you're driving and see an ambulance speeding down the street, ask your kids to pray for the person being treated.
- Pray in a conversational way. Instead of saying a formal prayer at meals and bedtime, speak to God as a friend. Use simple, conversational language. Kids will think, I can do that. They will be more likely to talk to God in their own way.
- Use Bible verses. Have your kids ever said, "I don't know what to say when I pray?" Show them verses that will give them ideas. For example, if they're having a hard time in math, they can use Philippians 4:13 to jump-start their conversation with God.
"Lord, thank You that I can do all things (even my math homework) because You give me strength."
Listen to Your Child
A mom was preparing dinner when her little boy, Matt, asked, "Are you listening, Mommy?"
"Sure," his mom said as she turned off the mixer and started setting the table.
Matt stopped her. He put his hands on her cheeks and said, "But Mommy, would you listen with your face?"
Many of us are like that mother. When I realized how deficient I was in this area, I made listening one of my goals.
I haven't arrived, but I have discovered some ways to improve:
Make eye contact and pay attention to your child's words, feelings and body language.
Start small. Instead of aiming to listen to your child or husband for an hour, start with a goal of five minutes a day.
Be available to talk at odd times, day and night.
Be willing to talk about sensitive subjects without overreacting. When you overreact to what your kids share, they tend to clam up and not tell you anything significant.
Ask open-ended questions. They encourage thought and communication, and they don't have a right or wrong answer.
Practice active listening. Active listening doesn't judge everything that comes out of your child's mouth. Instead of saying, "I don't know why you feel so angry," say, "It sounds like you're mad and hurt. I understand that." Let your child know he's heard before you offer a solution.
Silently pray for your child while she's talking about a problematic situation or conflict. Ask God to give you wisdom and show you how to respond.
Delight in Your Child's Wonder
Have you ever responded with "later" to one of your kid's discoveries? Has your sense of wonder faded between the pages of your planner or been replaced by practicality and busyness? Here are some ways to stir up your wonder:
- Make bubbles…Create a mix of dishwashing liquid and a spoonful of glycerin and pour that into a container. Spend time with your children enjoying blowing large bubbles.
- Bring nature home…Hang a container of grains on your balcony wall to feed birds. You could also allow your child to plant and care for some flower pots that attract insects like bees or butterflies. Then research together some information about these creatures in books or online.
- Watch the sunset…Sit with your children on your roof or go to an elevated location at sunset and ponder how the colors of the sky change every few minutes. Continue to discuss what you witnessed together even after the sun has set completely.
- Go stargazing… Seize the opportunity whenever you are with your children outdoors at night, out of the city, on a clear night, one without a moon (maybe during the summer), and lay on your backs to stargaze. Try to make out some of the constellations, and point out any shooting stars you may see (which are in fact enflamed comets or meteors burning through outer space, but to us appear as though they are shooting stars).
Adapted from The Mom You're Meant to Be, published by Focus on the Family and Tyndale House. Copyright © 2003, Cheri Fuller. Used by permission.
