Sometimes, it seems like all there is time for when it comes to talking with our families is, “go put your shoes away” and “hurry up, it’s time to leave” type conversations. Sad, but true.
I find it funny (in a not so funny way) that I can be with my kids all day – teaching them, working with them, driving them to and from games and practices, and eating with them – and not always have very many meaningful conversations. Yes, logistics have to be worked out and plans have to be made. Recounting how the soccer game played out is fun. Joking around about what might happen if a ninja alien super hero giant rat was to join our household gets the creative juices flowing (and then some). Those types of conversations serve a purpose, there’s no doubt about it. (Although, ninja alien super hero giant rat? Really? Can we not sometimes stay just a little bit more within the realm of reality while we’re eating lunch?)
Lately, Matt and I have worked to be more intentional about making our boys think about and discuss more important, and sometimes difficult, topics. They are all old enough now (ages 8-15) to go beyond silly subjects and pointless jabber. And, because of their ages, no longer do we need to keep Bible study and character training as basic and simple as we did when they were little.
Last week, we studied in depth together 1 Corinthians 13. What is love? What does it really mean to love like Jesus loves? If love isn’t rude, isn’t self-seeking, isn’t easily angered, how then can we take on those godly traits? (As in, Laura isn’t rude, Laura isn’t self-seeking, Laura isn’t easily angered… Something to meditate on, for sure.)
This week, we are studying Ephesians 6, looking in depth at the armor of God and the spiritual battle we face each day. God has already won the battle! How can we put on our armor so that we can stand our ground when evil comes our way?
This has been a great opportunity for Matt and I to share our ideas on these topics with our kids. But even better? Hearing what our boys think. Letting them express what these scriptures mean to them. Watching the wheels turn in their minds while they consider God’s love and His power to help us fight our spiritual battles.
These conversations have been rich. Our goal is to keep them going. Here’s hoping our kids will learn and grow from what they are hearing and studying. I know I sure am.
And I will brace myself for the fact that we are sure to balance these discussions with vivid and detailed accounts of a one-eyed creature whose amazing super power has everything to do with none other than earsplitting, green, gaseous bodily functions, which means that he obviously takes over large cities by….
Well anyway. You get the picture.
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Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!
I just got done reading an article about meaningful conversations with your children. This is SO important, please consider doing such with your children, including the earsplitting, green…
Laura, I have started a new series on adoption. It has been years in coming because what I will be ultimately talking about is the failed adoptions which is a topic not many know about. Please pray I use my words wisely.
Blessings
Wait. Beyond everything else, now I have to have MEANINGFUL conversations with my kids? *Whines and stomps foot*
Will you never stop pushing us to improve our parenting and our godliness? 8-)
Thank you so much for hosting the linkup party and for such a wonderful blog!! Have a blessed day and if you’d like, stop by my blog to share your posts on WholeHearted Home Wednesday’s LINKUP :-)
Thank you so much for hosting the linkup party and for such a wonderful blog!! Have a blessed day and if you’d like, stop by my blog to share your posts on WholeHearted Home Wednesday’s LINKUP :-)
So important it is to talk with our children as they grow; enjoy these years, Laura! My youngest two are 12 & 14, so the depth of conversation here is growing as well!
My post today is about a sweet thank you note I received from the young son of friends of ours… had to memorialize it by blogging about it. :) Thanks for hosting!
We are a family full of daughters. After reading this post, I must admit, that my first thought was, “This is the exact type of family that we are praying for to be raising godly sons to become godly husbands for our daughters.” Praying for you as you raise your boys and for us as we raise our girls, that the Lord would give us plenty of these opportunities to have these discussions and may the Lord give the increase. :)
So true! Thank you this awesome reminder! Linking up for gratituesday!
I so look forward to my kids being old enough for deep conversations (they are 4, 2, and 6 months right now). When I was a classroom teacher my favorite times were when my students and I got into deep discussions!
This is such a good reminder. It’s so important to be intentional with training our children spiritually. Sometimes it’s tempting to just “manage” them while doing whatever else I’m doing.
Linking up! (I liked twice, by the way, because the first one I put MY name instead of my blog post name. I’ve outed myself as a link up newbie. So… you can delete that one if you want!
Thanks for the linking on Gratitude Tuesday.
I love your sentence:
I have worked to be more intentional
Yes – Intentional – slowing down and getting into what is right there and now.
Blessings,
Janis
I, for one, would like to think the character traits I want my kids to have will just be picked up on (read no extra work required). However, the reality is, while I am a good person some of the time, I am still a fallen daughter here in this world, so my kids see my wrongs along with my good. How can they know what they are supposed to do? Teach them by pointing them (and myself) to the one who can make us whole. I have four daughters. My husband is leading the girls and I through a study called Beauty and the Pig based on Proverbs 11:22. We are only a short way into it, but we are all learning so much together. It is nice to have a common understanding among us about God’s word.
This is great. My kids are only 7 months old so I can’t completely relate but everyday I try to be intentional with them. With what we do and say, how we play together, how my husband and I interact. I know that this will be a good starting point for our future interaction with the kids.
A newcomer to your sight, I love this post! Thank you for the encouragement. So hard to slow down and do what is best rather than what is just good.
Well, it’s not Tuesday, but thankfully Thankfulness is a good attitude to have any day of the week. :)
And thank YOU for offering the Mr. Linky. I just love how my readers can hop on over to your site for an extra dose of encouragement.