Recently God has blessed me with another idea for my children, to help them stay focused on Him and to grow closer to Him. I have to admit, this is one I am so very excited about! We have started something I like to call their Jesus Journals. My first thought was to have them begin to keep journals about their walk with God and things they do; then it came to me not just to have them write freely, but to probe them with questions. Then, while talking about it with a friend she also suggested incorporating the stories of the Bible along with it. With all of these ideas together, I was thrilled to see how this would turn out.
So, I went shopping for the perfect journals and found some really cute ones with scripture and encouraging words on the cover. I wrote a letter to each of them on the first page; telling them what these journals were all about. I told them that as we took this journey together we would pray that they continue to develop a close relationship with God through knowing His word and seeking Him together. I also told them that it is my prayer that they will each grow into the man/woman that God has created them to be and to not only be blessed, but to be blessings to anyone they encounter.
I also bought a "Stories of the Bible" book. This book is a bit geared toward my younger two, but also has some "going deeper" points for my oldest to read and study as well. So, what I do is put the book out twice a week. The first of the week is with a question of my own and the second part of the week is with the story book. I have them read a particular story and set up a couple question about the story and ask them to tell me what the story teaches them.
We're coming up on our third week and they really seem to enjoy them; in fact apparently they expected them on specific days instead of random ones and when they woke one morning and they weren't there, they came hunting me down. One story that I have given them to read was when Adam and Eve encountered the snake in the garden and while my oldest knew the story all too well, she told me that she never really realized that there was a lesson in it for her…that surely made me feel good!
You know, each time God gives me an idea I have to admit that sometimes it is a struggle to keep them all focused and going. Some of the ideas catch on like wild fire and the kids need no probing from me at all, some they need some pushing from me and yet even others, I let fall by the way side. I read back through the Family Growth blogs and realized that one of them I have let slip altogether. Now I'm not condemning myself, but I do realize the importance of what I have started with my children and what I am praying God uses me to teach them.
My prayer is that God will help me to manage my time and efforts better. My children are a gift to me, but they are God's children and it is my job and honor to raise them to be God fearing people. This is not only tough at times and a challenge, but it is so much a blessing that I have a hard time even trying to describe it. I'm grateful to God for allowing me to be their mother and for the way He uses me to raise them!!
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