Posts Tagged ‘children’

The Sweet Prayers of Children

Monday, January 16th, 2012

prayers-of-children“Mommy, teach me how to pray,” said my daughter not so long ago.

I smiled at her and told her to repeat some words after me. “Dear Lord Jesus, please help me not to throw fits. Help me not to be selfish and annoy my brothers. Help me to love You with all my heart, to obey my parents, and to have self-control. In Jesus’ name, Amen”

She repeated back to me each phrase as I made up what she ought to pray for.

I did this for each of my sons when they were little. Now when I put my kids to bed, they take turns praying in the dark, and their prayers are way wiser, deeper, and more honest than mine ever were at their ages.

Back when I struggled with anger, I would stop abruptly, get on my knees, and pray in front of my children, that God would forgive me my sin and to help me not to be ruled by anger but by His Spirit. Oh, yes, it was humiliating to do that in front of my children multiple times a day for weeks on end, but guess what? My children have no shame to confess their sin in front of others, openly to God in their prayers, knowing that God can transform them through the power of the Spirit just like God transformed Mom.

Something else I love about my children’s prayers besides their honesty and confession of sin is the way they praise and glorify God. One of my sons said to God, “It must have been great when You created the universe from nothing. You are so incredibly powerful. Just everything, the sunsets, the trees, the mountains, You invented all that…” And he went on and on about how great God is while tears of joy rolled down my face in the dark.

People, you must love prayer if you ever want your kids to love it. Pray to God like you talk to a real, live human being. Because He is. And it’s so vibrant and beautiful, and God works so mightily through prayer. It’s so worth it to be in His presence!

100 Boredom Busters for Kids (Free PDF)

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

boredom-busters-for-kids

One of my sons walked up to me at the beginning of the summer and said that he was bored. “What? Are you my son?!” I asked, and he looked bewildered. I continued, “I don’t think I’ve ever been bored in my life. My mind is too large for boredom. I’ll tell you what… I’ll make a list of things you can do.” Here is the list I typed up and gave to my son one afternoon:

  1. Make a blanket tent.
  2. Draw and stain a treasure map.
  3. Catch an insect in a jar.
  4. Put on a puppet show.
  5. Watercolor.
  6. Play croquet in the backyard.
  7. Put together a puzzle.
  8. Wear costumes and put on a play.
  9. Practice magic tricks.
  10. Build a house of cards.
  11. Play board games.
  12. Learn how to whistle.
  13. Draw a picture.
  14. Have a tea party with your sister.
  15. Teach yourself a musical instrument.
  16. Ride a bike.
  17. Draw with chalk on the driveway.
  18. Get an empty wastepaper basket and toss a ball into it.
  19. Earn money by doing extra chores.
  20. Act like spies and investigate an area for footprints.
  21. Create a new invention.
  22. Have a deep conversation with someone.
  23. Climb trees.
  24. Shine a lamp on a dark wall and make shadow puppets.
  25. Toss a frisbee around.
  26. Learn photography.
  27. Read a book.
  28. Build a city with Legos.
  29. Draw and color a cartoon strip.
  30. Practice cursive writing.
  31. Listen to music and dance around.
  32. Put together a talent show.
  33. Get CD’s from the library and learn a new language.
  34. Write a fun story.
  35. Make crafts.
  36. Play with magnets.
  37. Fly a kite.
  38. Have a water gun fight.
  39. Bake cookies.
  40. Make a terrarium inside a jar.
  41. Practice cartwheels and head stands.
  42. Learn how to type.
  43. Play a game of marbles.
  44. Do scrapbooking.
  45. Play tag in the backyard.
  46. Learn origami.
  47. Make a delicious 4-course meal. Dress up.
  48. Play cops and robbers with a secret hideout.
  49. Write a letter to a friend or relative.
  50. Make a sculpture with clay.
  51. Look at random stuff under a microscope.
  52. Race matchbox cars across the floor.
  53. Start a rock collection.
  54. Play with an electronics kit.
  55. Blow bubbles.
  56. Make a bird feeder and identify the birds who eat the bird seed.
  57. Learn how to pray properly like a real prayer warrior. Throw your heart into it.
  58. Look through a telescope at the rings on Saturn.
  59. Identify 25 plants in your neighborhood. Find out which ones are edible.
  60. Write a comedy show and perform it.
  61. Play cowboys and Indians.
  62. Write a poem.
  63. Cross-stitch (or learn how to sew on a button).
  64. Pretend to be a sailor on a ship, exploring new lands.
  65. Sew tiny clothes for dolls (if you’re a girl).
  66. Go for a walk.
  67. Look for wild animals in your backyard and observe their habits.
  68. Paint a mural.
  69. Do leaf rubbings.
  70. Make the best sandwich in the world (or the tallest). Eat it.
  71. Prepare and give a speech.
  72. Plant a garden.
  73. Make a snow fort (or a mud sculpture).
  74. Go share the gospel with your neighbor.
  75. Learn how to harmonize for singing.
  76. Record interviews with family members.
  77. Make breakfast in bed for mom or dad. Bring it on a tray with a flower.
  78. Do something nice for your brother or sister.
  79. Study the Word of God about a topic. Use the concordance. Tell your family what you learned.
  80. Make a collage.
  81. Dress up and have a fashion show.
  82. Make homemade instruments and play them in a band.
  83. Read a fun Bible story and act it out with costumes.
  84. Do a science experiment.
  85. Invent a new soup. Make sure it’s delicious. Bake fresh bread to go with it.
  86. Design your future home.
  87. Build contraptions out of K’nex.
  88. Rubber stamp cards and stationary.
  89. Make homemade gifts for people.
  90. Make an obstacle course.
  91. Get flashlights and investigate a dark room in your house.
  92. Play hopscotch on the driveway.
  93. Learn sign language.
  94. Throw a softball with someone and catch it with a mit.
  95. Make a cardboard box into a house and play in it.
  96. Create a restaurant in your house. Include menus and music.
  97. Set up toy soldiers and learn real battle tactics.
  98. Write a new song. Sing it to your family.
  99. Memorize a poem or Scripture. Recite it theatrically.
  100. Film some fun home movies for your grandparents.

If you would like to print out this list, here is the PDF:

 

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Put Yourself Above Your Kids?

Friday, July 30th, 2010

put-yourself-above-your-kidsPut yourself above your kids? It’s the second time I’ve heard that God is first, husband second, me third, and children fourth. Nobody has said why this is the case, so I thought about it.

At first it sounded weird, but then it actually made sense. If my body belongs to my husband and I don’t take care of my body, I’m not taking care of my husband.

If I spend all my energy homeschooling the children and have nothing left for my husband, my husband is not first before the children. If I do less with my children, and I do something that will refresh me or give me energy, I will not only take care of myself, but I’m a better wife.

So homeschool mothers really must prioritize themselves above their children (or homeschooling) in order to be what their husbands need them to be: a fun playmate who actually has something to give. In turn, if we are refreshed, we will be able to homeschool with a joyful heart instead of a weary one.