Parent Archives - Page 2 of 60

Just a Few More Miles on the Car

March 30, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

Two weeks ago, I drove my teenage daughters to their school at 5:30 in the morning. They wanted to ride a bus with their friends to the state fine arts competition. I raced back home, ate a quick breakfast, then started my own hour-and-a-half drive to the competition. The odometer clicked along as I drove down the interstate…putting just a few more miles on the car.

That car takes us to basketball games, school concerts, piano recitals, and school plays. The miles are racking up, evidenced by my feeling like I have that vehicle at the dealership for regular maintenance every few weeks. Where will it take us next? I think college visits are lurking in our future.

But I wouldn’t miss these miles for anything because it means we are there for our daughters. I don’t want them to just tell me about that free throw shot they made; I want to see it, and celebrate with them. It’s not enough to just hear how they missed some key notes in that piano duet; I want to be there to commiserate, then encourage them to move on to the next event. And it takes putting a few more miles on the car to be present for those moments.

Am I going to have a meltdown if I have to miss a game? No. Things happen. But I want our daughters to know that in our world, being there for them is important.

Being present with your child, involving yourself in what they enjoy, is a huge relationship builder.

You may not be in the season of putting those miles on the car. For you, it may be celebrating that new puzzle he finally put together by himself or hanging that picture she colored on the refrigerator. Perhaps you’re cheering from the sidelines of a local soccer game where all the five-year-olds cluster around the ball. Maybe you sit in the stands at a Tee Ball game where the kids in the outfield are aimlessly picking flowers.

But whatever your child is doing these days, be present in it with them. Look up when she calls you to see how high she’s going in the swing. Really notice when he connects the train tracks in a new way. Because we’re building relationships. We want our kids to know that we’re going to be there every step of the way, win or lose, succeed or fail.

Is it always easy or convenient? No. I’m finding it is easier in these days to make time for all those things since the physical demands of parenting are less. But when you have younger ones to take care of or housekeeping chores that keep piling up, it may not seem worth the time to stop what you’re doing and focus on what they’re doing.

Yet how much does it mean to our children to gain our approval, to know they have our full attention? Or, in this stage of mine, to know that they can look up in the stands and see me there, or if they’re up on the stage, that they can spot me in the crowd.

I’m nearing the tail end of this active parenting stage. Is there one kindergarten field trip I regret attending? No. Is there one piano recital I wish I would have skipped? Not hardly.

I know you moms that read here. You’re the ones who already go out of your way to support your child, encourage him, be there for her. And isn’t it fun when the game or the concert or the play is over, and you can talk about the highlights and laugh (maybe not in that moment, but later) over the miscues?

Before we wrap up, let’s talk about what this post is not.

It’s not a guilt trip. Goodness knows we’ve all been on enough of those.

It’s not a “Look at me! Aren’t I the perfect mom because I attend all my kids’ activities?!” I’ve been blessed with parents who set the example in this area. I have a husband who works hard and manages money well so that I don’t have to work outside the home, which gives me the time to do all the things. I’ve been granted the health and strength to make this process work.

Lastly, this isn’t a license to obsess over every move my kid makes, or to relive parts of my own childhood through my children’s accomplishments. It’s simply a reminder of the importance of building relationships. If you don’t have kids, apply this to your marriage or your friendships. Be present when you’re with that person. Practice enjoying what brings them pleasure. Celebrate their wins and grieve with them in their losses.

But back to us moms…On those occasions when you wonder if it’s worth it to read one more book aloud or exclaim over one more Lego creation or take another long drive to watch that kid play (or sit on the bench) in a game, remember our goal. We’re building a relationship with that child that will last a lifetime. And the time to invest in that relationship is now. You can’t go back and do it all over again.

And do you know what happened last Friday, the final day of my girls’ spring break? That 16-year-old and her sister, they got in the car and drove off on their own to meet friends at the ice skating rink while I stayed at home. And just like that, it’s my girls – not me – putting just a few more miles on that car.

Don’t Skip This Crucial Step When Training Your Children

March 9, 2017 by Tracey 4 Comments

Here’s my latest version of “Kids Say the Funniest Things” – and it brought to mind such an important principle for our parenting!

I work with the Kindergarten through Second Grade children at our church on Wednesday nights. Last week, during Bible verse memory time, I had a 6-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy in my group. The girl was studying Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”

At the top of the page in her Awana book was a picture of a boy with a plate of food in front of him, and some words printed next to the picture describing what the verse was about. Once she had memorized the verse, I asked her to tell me what it meant.

She glanced up at the picture (obviously not reading the words), and said, “Oh, it means, don’t eat your food too fast.” I smiled and said, “No, that’s not what it means.”

The little boy started saying, “I know what it means! I know what it means!” He’s quite smart for his age, so I figured he probably did. I said, “Okay, tell me what the verse means.” He started making stabbing motions toward himself, and said, “It means don’t kill people!”

He obviously mistook the word “murmuring” for “murdering!” After I gently told him that his description was also incorrect, I explained that the verse meant to do everything without whining and complaining. Honestly, I think they had two thoughts – they both liked their interpretations of the verse better, and they also probably understood that they’re guilty of whining and complaining at times (aren’t we all!) What the verse really meant was more convicting than the meanings they had come up with.

This experience reminded me of the importance of explaining God’s Word to our children. While memorizing Scripture is great, how much more valuable it is when our kids learn to apply those verses in their lives.

Our daughters are at the age now where they sometimes hear views that differ from ours. Whether it’s from their friends, at their Christian school, through media, or in other arenas, they are slowly being exposed to a wide range of opinions about what’s right and wrong, how they should act, and what they should believe.

Since they’re 16 and 14, my husband and I are able to actually have discussions with them about these topics. My burden lately is that every time a new question comes up, we will not just share our opinion, but that we will point them straight to the Bible, and share specific verses about why we believe what we believe. Because in the long run – and actually not long from now for our 16-year-old! – she will have to make her own judgments and decisions about what she will and won’t do, and I want her to decide based on God’s Word. It’s not enough for her to say “Well, that’s how I was brought up.” That will fail her at some point. Her convictions need to be based in the truth of God’s Word if she’s going to stand firm.

Over Sunday lunch, a certain movie was the topic of conversation. While we had already decided that it wasn’t going to be viewed by our family, I wanted the girls to think it through, and come to a conclusion about why we should or shouldn’t watch it (even if this particular decision had already been made for them). With teenagers, we are way beyond the point of “Do this/Don’t do this because I said so.” We are on the threshold of our daughters making all their choices on their own, so it’s vital that we point them to the Bible. Part of our training them is to help them learn to think critically and apply what they know from the Bible to every situation.

No matter what age your kids are, get them thinking! Help them understand the Bible, not just regurgitate its facts or spout off verses that they don’t comprehend. If they’re saved, the Holy Spirit can take the Word of God, use it to convict them of wrong, and show them the right way to live.

What Should We Teach Our Daughters to Look for in a Husband?

March 2, 2017 by Tracey 8 Comments

If we’re going to talk about boy/girl relationships, I’ll tell you a bit of my history.

I didn’t really date in high school. While I found plenty of boys that I liked and that I thought should be interested in me 😉 it was my freshman year of college before I actually started to date. The Christian college I attended had fairly strict rules, so most of my dates were on campus, and consisted of lots of talking, eating meals together, playing games and/or studying in common areas – or going to church services together, which was where my husband and I went on our first date!

Since I now have a daughter in high school, we get to have some fun conversations about boys. I encourage both of our girls to get to know guys as friends while they’re in high school, to use these years to learn what types of personalities work well together, and to begin to understand what attributes might be important to them in a future husband.

When it’s time to get serious about the type of guy they want to marry, there are a few qualities that are key. The neat thing is that this is not a theory I have to explain to our daughters or a lecture they have to sit and listen to me give. I get to point out these qualities in their dad – so he has a major role in helping define what the right guy is going to look like for them!

Here’s a list of nine traits to help them get started as they consider the type of man they want to marry.

1. He’s a Christian. Our girls already know the Bible verse (2 Corinthians 6:14) about not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers, so this needs to be the determining factor before their heart and emotions get involved with a young man.

2. He walks with God. More than just having a salvation testimony, I hope our daughters seek a man who has an authentic relationship with Christ, and who demonstrates that through his words and actions. For example, since going to a local church to worship God and minister with others has been important to our girls, the man they’re getting to know should have the same interests.

The rest of these traits should naturally flow from this one, but we’ll break them down anyway.

3. Character. He has a good moral reputation and is a man of integrity. This is one of the greatest things that my husband models for our girls. He is determined to always do what’s right in a situation to the best of his ability.

4. Kindness. It sounds like such a simple thing, but not every guy is going to be genuinely kind to others.

5. Hard worker. A guy’s work ethic is going to play a very important part in how life goes for their family. He doesn’t have to start out with a great job making lots of money, but he does need to be willing to work hard and to look for opportunities to improve himself. Watch out for laziness!

6. Sense of humor. Life is going to be serious enough; you need someone to laugh with as you go along!

7. Comfortable in his own skin. Not only do you want someone to laugh with, but you want a guy who can laugh at himself. He is who he is, and doesn’t “put on airs” to try to impress other people. A man like this will also be humble enough to ask for forgiveness when he’s done wrong.

8. Not self-centered. I remember one guy that I dated briefly in college. He spent most of the few dates we had talking about himself – specifically telling me what a great soccer player he was. I appreciate that he helped me to see one of the things I didn’t want in a husband, and I’ve already warned my girls about this kind of guy. 🙂

9. Honest. A lifetime relationship of marriage requires trust. Don’t just consider how he interacts with you, but watch how he deals with other people. Is he always looking for a short cut to get things done rather than doing the job thoroughly? Is he totally up front about all the details when he’s conducting business?

I remind my girls that they’re not perfect, and that there’s no perfect guy out there, either! You’re not likely going to find an 18-year-old who has matured in every one of these areas, but he can certainly have a heart that is bent toward God, and be pursuing a life that will glorify Him.

God can give our daughters the wisdom and discernment they need as they begin to develop dating relationships in the coming years. And as for me? I can be on my knees praying!!

6 Pieces of Advice for a Daughter Who’s Beginning Her Life’s Voyage

February 23, 2017 by Tracey 6 Comments

It’s a feeling I’d have been expecting a few months from now. It should hit when the school year ends, and I realize my oldest daughter is officially a high school junior, and I only have two more years to expect her to come walking in our door every night, going to sleep in that queen-sized bed, leaving socks and pajamas in a pile on the floor every morning.

So to get teary-eyed about my daughter growing up on a random February morning caught me by surprise. Though I’ll admit that I cry a lot more easily these days, and it doesn’t take much to get me all sentimental. But this time a picture did it.

No, it wasn’t the one of her holding the driver’s license she got last week, nor the cute picture she posted on Instagram from her elementary school days. It was a picture of a boat on a lake at sunset.

That picture prompted these thoughts.

It’s like that sweet daughter has spent years here with us, safe in the harbor. Her dad and I have directed where she went and when. We’ve been able to guide and correct that boat to a great degree. Not that there weren’t rough winds and waves splashing up on the shore and rocky paths to navigate together. There were – and I’m sure there are still some more ahead of us.

But before long now, she’ll push away from the dock, set off in her own boat, begin the voyage that will take her out into the life that God has for her. And that little boat will seem so tiny out on that big ocean all by itself. She’ll chart her own course as we watch, sometimes from nearby, sometimes from far away.

So, since I’m an ex-school teacher, and always take the opportunity to slip a little advice her way, I thought I’d have some words of wisdom ready for her as she navigates her way out into the world.

1. Let God be your captain. Pray for His guidance, study His Word, yield to His leading. Nothing is more important. He will always guide you well.

2. Be true to yourself. God made you special. He put dreams and desires in your heart that He meant you to fulfill. Don’t allow other people to dictate who you become or where you go, but follow the course that’s meant for you.

3. Love those God gives you with all your heart. Treasure the relationships you have, whether it’s friends, a husband, children. Be loyal and passionate in loving your people.

4. Be bold and brave in chasing your dreams. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone, and fight your fears. It’s fitting that we talked about this quote just a few weeks ago.

5. Make time to serve others. Life will be mighty empty if you make it all about yourself. Wherever you are, find a way to bless someone else, to make another person’s life a little easier and a little happier.

6. Live in the present. Don’t think that when you reach that certain port you’ll finally be truly happy. Whether it’s marriage or parenting or that promotion or a ministry opportunity, don’t waste today wishing for tomorrow. In fact, when you look back, you just may see that the actual journey was more fulfilling than the reward.

And I’ll finish by taking that last piece of advice for my own. I’m not going to wish I was back in the preschool phase or the elementary days, nor am I going to waste the next 2 1/2 years dreading her high school graduation. I’m going to wash that school uniform tonight and pack her lunch tomorrow morning and let her drive us down the highway to school – and enjoy today’s moments as they come.

How to Pray for My Strong-Willed Child (and Her Mother)

February 2, 2017 by Tracey 5 Comments

Sitting around the supper table recently, my family was discussing some memorable “misbehavior moments” from when our girls were younger. It took me back to those early days of training and correction, when it sometimes felt like nothing was working! (Not that we still don’t have those days now, but that’s a post for another day 😉

We often hear the term “strong-willed child.” I would certainly say we have one that fits into that category! I like this definition from Aha! Parenting.com.

“What exactly is a strong-willed child? Some parents call them “difficult” or “stubborn,” but we could also see strong-willed kids as people of integrity who aren’t easily swayed from their own viewpoints. Strong-willed kids are spirited and courageous. They want to learn things for themselves rather than accepting what others say, so they test the limits over and over. They want desperately to be “in charge” of themselves, and will sometimes put their desire to “be right” above everything else. When their heart is set on something, their brains seem to have a hard time switching gears. Strong-willed kids have big, passionate feelings and live at full throttle.”

While we need to consistently pray for all of our children, sometimes those we would classify as strong-willed drive us to our knees more often than the others. Below, I’ve listed eight ways we can pray for those children in particular, as well as ways we can pray for ourselves as we guide them. (I’m using the female tense here since I have daughters, but feel free to substitute “he/him” if your strong-willed child happens to be a boy!)

Give me wisdom to parent this child. James 1:5 promises that God will answer this prayer! I certainly need wisdom to know how to handle the daily struggles that come when she continually wants her own way, right then, no matter what.

Draw her to Yourself in salvation early in life. Our ultimate desire in training our children is to have them be willing to submit their will to God’s. Teaching them to obey authority they can see and hear will hopefully lead to their obeying God and His Word.

Help me to be firm in setting boundaries. We get tired, and it’s so easy to cave in and just let her do what she wants. If you’re like me, you just want peace in your family! Every issue doesn’t need to turn into a power struggle (which is why I need wisdom), but when I take a stand, I need to see it through.

Channel her strong will into courage to stand up for what’s right. Help me see the positive potential in her nature. Use her to be a voice for those who are weaker, and to do great things for the cause of Christ.

On those days when I’m exhausted from the constant power struggles, remind me to find my strength in You. Psalm 22:19 says, “But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.” God can give us the help and strength we need for each day.

Grow her desire to obey. So often that’s what it’s all about – obedience. Recognize and praise those times when she actually does do what she’s asked without a fight!

As I parent her, show me how often I put my wishes and desires above Yours, so that I may repent. I’ve learned more about myself through parenting my children than I ever dreamed I would!! I’m not nearly as patient and easy going as I might have thought I was before. Often, God uses situations with my children to show me my own lack of self-control and sinfulness.

Even when it’s hard and I’m frustrated beyond belief, let me demonstrate Your love toward her. Romans 5:8 tells me that even when I was steeped in my sin, Christ loved me enough to die for me. No matter how unlovely she is in her moments of rebellion, I can allow the fruit of the Spirit to show love through me to her.

God has placed into our homes exactly the children He wants us to parent. May we seek His help through prayer every day to train those children in a way that brings Him glory.

10 Ways to Build Strong Family Ties

January 26, 2017 by Tracey 7 Comments

Do you have any goals for your family?

I’m not talking about a written-down list of what you want to accomplish together, though I think that’s a great idea! The only list of that type we have at the moment is a general list in our heads of trips we’d like to take, places we’d like to visit as a family.

Let’s go deeper than that. How do you want your family members to feel when you’re all together? I know that I want each person to feel safe, loved, and accepted exactly as they are. Whether it’s a wacky sense of humor or a deep-seated fear of spiders, we all should feel comfortable being ourselves when we’re together.

I want us to enjoy spending time with each other, to create family memories, to have moments that we can all look back on with shared fondness. I love hearing our daughters talk about memories from their younger years, though that often turns into retelling stories about when they got in trouble for something!

I think we all want to build this sense of love and security into our families. I need to actively look for ways to cultivate that spirit, so I wrote out a list of ten ways that we can build strong family ties.

1. Pray together. Here’s a great foundation for the rest of the list! Our hearts are united as we pray for needs to be met, then rejoice together when prayer is answered. We all know when someone in the family is going through a difficult time, and it’s a comfort to know that the whole family is praying for you.

2. Share family meals. Do this as much as you can when your children are small, even though it will be hard at times and all kinds of messy. 🙂 Speaking from experience, it gets much harder when your kids are teenagers and have practices, games, and other activities in the evening. These days I really treasure the nights we’re all around the table at the same time! It’s fun to hear about the girls’ school day, and to just slow down and reconnect after a busy day.

3. Support each other’s interests. As much as possible, we all go to the girls’ piano recitals, basketball games, and school concerts. It’s fun to rehash the highlights together afterwards! It also helps us be able to encourage each other in our interests. My parents were wonderful examples of this when I was growing up.

4. Volunteer as a family. Whether at church or in the community, take advantage of every opportunity to serve others as a group. I like to have the girls help me when I work in children’s church, vacation Bible school, or the church nursery.

5. Read an exciting book aloud. It’s fun to experience the story together and discuss what might happen next. We might also listen to radio series like Adventures in Odyssey in the car when we’re on long trips.

6. Set family goals and work toward them together. You could choose long-term or short-term goals to strive for. Even manual labor can be fun, if you’re working together towards a goal, like cleaning out the garage so you can have a yard sale to make money for a family trip. You could also choose a fun project, like putting together a large puzzle. (Okay, so that’s fun for some people 😉

7. Have friendly competitions and include a prize for the winner. Each March, we all fill out NCAA basketball tournament brackets; the person who gets the most points chooses a restaurant for our next night out. Even though the girls and I aren’t that knowledgeable about which teams are the best, we still have fun competing.

8. Explore new places. While an actual vacation is nice, this could also just be a visit to the local zoo or a bike ride at a park you’ve never checked out. Once they’re old enough, involve your children in the planning of trips and activities when possible.

9. Respect each other by listening – and not interrupting – when someone else is talking. This is a valuable skill both inside and outside of our families! We need to listen to each other and really hear what the other person is saying instead of just forming our answer and sharing our opinion.

10. Institute family traditions. If you’ve read here long, you know this is one of my favorite ideas! Our next tradition on the calendar is in February. Each of our girls always get heart-shaped boxes of candy from their dad on Valentine’s Day. I’ve tried to create a certain tradition around every holiday.

As Gretchen Rubin says, “The days are long, but the years are short.” Let’s gather our families around us and build strong ties that will give us great companions as we walk through life, those who will celebrate our victories and walk with us through our struggles.

(And if you’re having a particularly hard day today, go read The Best Response to ‘The Days Are Long, But the Years Are Short.‘ Because I do remember those days, and they can be really, really long.)

What are other ways we can strengthen ties within our families?

8 Verses from Proverbs to Teach Your Children

January 19, 2017 by Tracey 5 Comments

Have you ever experienced information overload?

I’m a planner by nature. If my family is taking a trip to a location we haven’t visited before, I want to check out everything the area has to offer – all the hotels, restaurants, and the sights we might want to see. But it doesn’t take long until I just feel overwhelmed with ALL the information.

There are so many websites to check out – I could get lost in the internet for days. How do I know which reviews are reliable? Is that tourist attraction really worth our time? Is that the best hotel rate I’m going to find?

Here’s my point. Sometimes we’re so overwhelmed with information that we don’t know where to start.

I believe that as Christian moms, we want to raise wise children. This doesn’t necessarily involve book smarts; rather, we want them to make good decisions and insightful choices. I’m glad to know that we don’t have to search all around to find the best ways to teach our children about wisdom.

The book of Proverbs gives us advice for every area of life, from relationships to money to how to conduct business to generosity and self-control.

Below I listed eight verses from Proverbs, each containing a basic principle you can teach to your children. They’re all fairly short, short enough that you could even memorize them together as a family after you discuss them. (I’ve included a free printable of these verses at the bottom of this post.)

1. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. ~Proverbs 13:20 This boils down to choose your friends wisely. This is important when our children are young, but even more so as they hit the middle school and high school years. We become like those we spend our time with.

2. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. ~Proverbs 12:22 Tell the truth always, even when it’s hard – and it will be sometimes, even as adults.

3. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. ~Proverbs 16:32 Learning to control your temper takes hard work – and the help of the Holy Spirit. The second part of this proverb deals with any area of self control. Handling your emotions wisely is more valuable than being physically strong.

4. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. ~Proverbs 13:4 In other words, the lazy man wants lots of things, but has nothing, while the diligent person will be made rich. Work hard, be thorough, and you will be rewarded. Gaining wealth isn’t in and of itself a worthy life goal, but it’s typically a byproduct of hard work and perseverance.

5. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. ~Proverbs 22:9 Bountiful here means “generous.” When you work hard – as we talked about above – you will be able to be generous, which brings further blessings on your life.

6. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. ~Proverbs 22:1 Your reputation is important. As Benjamin Franklin said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”

7. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ~Proverbs 19:20 Listen to those who are older and wiser than you, and you will learn much.

8. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. ~Proverbs 21:23 How much trouble we would all avoid if we could control what we say! While it will take more than a lifetime to work on this, it’s good to help our kids begin to understand the importance of the words they use. Those words can wound or heal, hurt or help.

When our kids were younger, I loved having stories that illustrated the principles in Proverbs. I haven’t mentioned them in a while, but Wisdom and the Millers and Those Kids in Proverbsville were books of short stories that we enjoyed reading together.

I created a free printable of these eight Proverbs if you’d like to have an easy way to reference it.

Click here to access the printable.

Is there another verse from Proverbs that you would add to this list?

Related Posts:
10 Bible Verses for Little Ones
10 Bible Verses for Teens to Memorize
10 Ways to Help Your Child Memorize Scripture

[This post contains affiliate links. If you click a product link and make a purchase, I receive a small percentage from any sales. This does not affect your price in any way.]

A Letter to My Teenage Daughter: God Made You Special

January 12, 2017 by Tracey 10 Comments

Dear Daughter,

To quote a famous novel, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” (You know I’m a Dickens fan, though I’ve never made it all the way through A Tale of Two Cities. 😉

I think that captures what it’s like to be a teenage girl sometimes.

On a good day, life is, like, ultimately good, like, happiness unbounded, like, dancing around the house and hugging your sister. Yes, that marks the best of times indeed.

Then there are the worst of times. The tears for no reason…though those are better than the tears flowing because of a friend’s betrayal, or a classroom humiliation, or rejection from some group to which you so desperately wanted to belong. The worst of times brings self doubt, and a critical eye turned inward, and sometimes, a broken spirit.

On those days in particular, I want you to remember that God made you special.

I know you think I’m just saying that because I’m your mom…and I am. But I’m also saying it because it’s true.

In these teen years, while you’re growing and changing and learning who you really are, it’s easy to want to be someone else. You see what makes a certain girl popular, why that girl has so many friends, how she seems to know just what to say or do to attract boys. Perhaps it’s that other girl’s confidence when she gets up in speech class or another friend’s ability to excel in every sport that you want for yourself. And maybe you feel less than, inadequate, because you don’t have those same skills.

It’s so easy to say “be comfortable in your own skin.” Yet sometimes you can feel like your skin doesn’t fit, that it doesn’t look right to other people, that it’s not who you want to be.

But who you are is special. God created you. He tells us in Psalm 139 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Yes, you know that phrase, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” But that’s certainly not always the first thought you have about yourself. Let’s dig into it for a minute and see what it means.

In the original Hebrew text of the Bible, the word fearfully means with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and with respect. The word wonderfully means unique, set apart, marvelous [Darling Magazine, May 2012]

You were created with great reverence and heart-felt interest, The very God of the universe is interested in you and in how your life plays out every day. You are unique and marvelous, a one-of-a-kind creation. Every personality trait, every quirk, the activities you enjoy, the pursuits you’re really good at ~ they’re all gifts from a Creator who makes no mistakes.

Introverted or extroverted, musical or artistic, a watcher or a doer, detail-oriented or a free spirit, you are the way you are for a reason. God has a plan for your life, a purpose for you to fulfill, a life to live that no one else can live in the same way. You’re not exactly like anyone else, and that’s just how it should be.

Remember these three important things.

You are made in the image of God. Cultivate that part of you that longs for a relationship with Him. Let His love, peace, and grace seep into your soul.

Be authentic. Like what you like, be who you are, don’t conform to fit someone else’s standard for you. Be gracious, kind, and thoughtful, but be you.

Give grace to all those girls around you. In spite of what it may look like from your vantage point, they have doubts and insecurities just like you do. You might never know how an encouraging word helps them through their own difficult day.

So, on those worst of days, my dearest daughter, take heart. God has a plan for you, a plan to bring you a future full of hope and promise. (Jeremiah 29:11) He will never leave you or fail you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

And your dad and I? We’re your biggest fans, your loudest cheerleaders, your prayer warriors.

We love you, just the way you are.

Love,

Mom

10 Gifts from Jesus to Unwrap This Christmas: An Object Lesson for Our Children

December 15, 2016 by Tracey 3 Comments

Let’s face it – gifts are usually the reason our children get so excited about Christmas. How much fun is it to unwrap a package or pull the tissue paper out of a gift bag? There’s anticipation, suspense, and excitement, especially if the present is something they’ve been waiting to receive!

Today I’m sharing a fun way to channel some of that gift-opening enthusiasm into illustrating the true meaning of Christmas. It originated with my aunt; she discussed it with my mom, who shared the thought with me. I did a brief post on this a few years ago, but wanted to flesh out the concept a little more. It’s a perfect teaching opportunity for your own family during this season, or it could even be used as a Sunday School or children’s church lesson.

Most of our kids are familiar with John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sending Jesus, His Son, at Christmas time, was the greatest gift that’s ever been given. It was the earthly beginning to the fulfillment of God’s plan for our salvation.

That Bible verse is a great starting point for this lesson. A simple explanation of the plan of salvation can be followed by a discussion of the blessings we receive when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

To bring this thought to life, take a box and fill it with some of the items listed below – physical things that represent those blessings. Then wrap the box and put it under the Christmas tree. Or, you could wrap each item individually, and have different children open each one. You can use all ten, or just pick and choose the ones you want, based on the ages of the children.

If you’re doing this at home, set aside a time on Christmas Eve or Christmas day to open these presents with your family. Discuss how each item depicts a gift we receive at salvation.

1. Eraser (our sins taken away). “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” ~Isaiah 43:25 All of our sins are forgiven when we ask Jesus to be our Savior.

2. Picture of a Mansion (a home in heaven). “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” ~John 14:2 Jesus is preparing a place for us to live with Him in heaven! You could also read Revelation 21:10-27, which describes the new Jerusalem and all the beautiful things that will be there.

3. Life Insurance Papers (eternal life). “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life...” ~I John 5:13 We will get to live with God forever!

4. Pen and Notebook (our name written in the book of life). “…rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” ~Luke 10:20 “And there shall in no wise enter into it [the new Jerusalem] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination…but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” ~Revelation 21:27 When we know Christ as Savior, our names are in the book of life.

5. Adoption Certificate (adopted into God’s family). “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world…Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” ~Ephesians 1:4-5 What a gift to be adopted into the family of God, joint heirs with Christ!

6. Receipt, stamped or written on “Paid in Full” (our sin debt paid). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ~Romans 6:23 Because of our sin, we deserved death, to be separated from God forever. But Jesus paid that debt when He died on the cross. He took all of our sins on Himself so that we wouldn’t have to suffer the punishment we earned.

7. White Paper Heart (a new heart for God). “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” ~Psalm 51:10 We have a clean heart because our sins are forgiven. God also makes us new creatures at salvation, with a heart that desires a relationship with Him.

8. Picture of a family (brothers and sisters in Christ). “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” ~Ephesians 2:19 It truly is a blessing to have a church family and other fellow believers to encourage us in our walk with Christ.

9. White piece of cloth (a robe of righteousness). “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” ~Revelation 19:8 We will one day stand before Christ “clean and white,” not because of our good works, but because Jesus shed His blood to cover our sins.

10. A Monogrammed Item (sealed by the Holy Spirit). “…in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” ~Ephesians 1:13-14 Once we are saved, we are sealed, or marked, as Christ’s forever. You could go another direction with this verse by using a box of money or a check and explaining that the Holy Spirit is a down payment or deposit (“earnest”) towards our inheritance in Christ, which we will receive in full when we get to Heaven.

I hope that this demonstration will remind all of us of the amazing gift we’ve been given in the person of Jesus, who came to earth to die for us, to rise from the grave, and to bring us into fellowship with God when we accept Him as our Savior.

Can you think of any other gifts we could add to the list?

Related posts:
5 Christmas Bible Verses to Teach Your Kids
Do We See Jesus?
3 Gifts I Want My Children to Receive This Christmas

5 Christmas Bible Verses to Teach Your Kids

December 1, 2016 by Tracey 3 Comments

I don’t remember why I memorized Luke 2:1-20 as a child. It may have been for a church Christmas play or a school program, but I committed that passage to memory many years ago. I can still recall most of it today – if you’re not grading me on it! 🙂 It’s also the Scripture we read together as a family each Christmas Eve before our kids go to bed.

If your children are very young, however, that’s a lot of verses to learn! I pulled together a list of five short verses that you can use to introduce them to the whole Christmas story.

1. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ~Isaiah 7:14b Talk to your children about God’s promise way back in the Old Testament that He would send His Son to save us from our sins.

2. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” ~John 1:14a I like to use this verse to teach that Jesus was God, made in the likeness of man, who left Heaven’s glories to come down and live with the people that He had created.

3. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” ~Matthew 1:21 Introduce the characters in the Christmas story. God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah, and Joseph to be His earthly father. I marvel at the faith these two had!

4. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2:11 The heart of the Christmas story is here as angels announce to shepherds on a hillside that the Savior has been born. That good news has been shared countless times in the thousands of years since then!

5. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him…” ~Matthew 2:11a Here we have the addition of the wise men to the Christmas story. These men traveled a long distance just to worship the one whose star they had seen back in their homeland.

Have you ever memorized part of the Christmas story from Luke 2? As a mom, I especially love verse 19, which tells us that Mary pondered in her heart all that had happened around the birth of Jesus. I think it will be neat to hear her relate the story when we get to heaven!