Saturday, April 19, 2008

Give me Grace

We received this little book, Give me Grace, as a gift, and I thought I would share it with you. We keep it at our kitchen table. The book is broken down into the days of the week and has a prayer and picture for each day. Every morning I ask Mateo "What day is it?" and then read that day's prayer. We also talk (well, I talk) about each picture...describing what I see. Then we talk about what our plans are for the day or anything special to note (such as on the weekends Daddy doesn't work), as well as what M is eating for breakfast, the color or his spoon and bowl, etc.

I'm always interested in how families worship God together through devotionals, prayer, music, etc...so if you would like to share something that is special for your family, I'd love to hear it!

8 comments:

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Yvonne Crawford said...

Communication like that is soooo important. After bedtime routine, Callum and I lay in his bed and talk about God, and other things he wants to talk about. It's such a peaceful time and a great way to have a really good private conversation.

I'm sure there is a moral to my post, I guess it's just that I was always close to my mother and I'm not quite sure why, then I had an au pair last summer who was really close to her parents. And she said the reason being is that they always had conversations like that you mentioned and what I mentioned and said that her mom always cared about what she thought, etc...unlike other mothers. So... keep the dialog and family praying going it really helps with the bonding....

I'm rambling sorry...

Tami said...

A bit off topic, but your post reminded me that in our world, where we're blessed (in some ways yes, and in some ways I think not), with so many material 'things' we can give our children, so many activities we can involve them in etc....reminded me that what our children need, and in many cases what they want most is our TIME. Taking the time out of our fast pace lives to just be together, one on one, and talk. Moments like these, whether it's at dinner, before bed, or after school are so important and priceless.

Maia said...

What a lovely tradition!

JEff said...

When we go for walks, we always point out the trees, flowers, animals, etc. and tell Reed that God made them all. We keep a Bible in his reach, so that he can hold the Bible and learn that it is God's Word.

Jenna said...

Well, you've read my blog, so you know how I love books. Thanks for that recommendation! I'll definitely check it out!

I'm also really interested in hearing how other families teach their kids to worship God and make him part of their daily lives. For us, it is a lot through music- we listen to worship music in the car just about where ever we go. We also do a devotion at bedtime using the Zondervan Beginner's Bible. That often sparks conversation.

Actually, I think the most important and thoughtful conversations we have had have been in "teachable moments" when something comes up as a result of our daily lives, and we can help Sawyer to see it from a Biblical perspective. Whether it is a situation at school or something he observes while we are out, we talk about it. I ask what he thinks, and then we talk about what the Bible says about it or how we as Christians should react.

Also, as Sawyer has grown up, he has just started randomly asking questions. Like this morning he asked where heaven was, closely followed by where does God live and how can he be everywhere? We talked a lot about all those things this morning- just because he was looking at a map and thinking about where people who are important to him live. I was at least encouraged that he listed God among them! :)

Can't wait to check out this book- thanks again for the recommendation! :)

Just Us said...

I gotta check that book out...we pray every night after we read a bedtime story and during the reading of the story I often talk about God and what he created and most importantly telling him that he was the best gift God ever gave mommie and daddy. Kristie

Rebecca Lily said...

Wow do I have catching up to do...

That book looks awesome. We do a devotional book at night called Leading Little Ones to God, and then we pray on the way to school in the morning. And we do communicate a lot.... like Yvonne said, keeping the lines open is great for both parents & children.

I think it's important that God is a natural, normal part of family dialogue. Not just Someone we talk about when we pray before dinner or read a Bible story before bed. I fear that kids learn to "categorize" God as only applying to certain times in life... like on Sunday mornings... instead of His presence applying to ALL of life. It's a discipline for me as a parent and I'm not very good at it yet... but I'm working at it. Sometimes when we lose something I'll say, "The Lord knows where it is... we should ask Him!" And just little things like that. They are good reminders for me too!!

Hugs

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