Growing Grateful Kids

Growing Grateful Kids

Notes from the Hearts at Home 2010 Session

with Susie Larson

 

We cannot impart what we do not possess. ie: you cannot teach your children thankfulness if you are not thankful yourself.

Lessons are more often caught than taught.

Ways to Teach Thankfulness

1) Model Thankfulness: 1 Thes 5:18 "...give thanks in ALL circumstances". Don't wait for life to get better before you are thankful.

Practical Application: Refuse worry - God will come through!

Spend time with God

Let your children HEAR you being thankful to God.

2) Practice Restraint: Just because it's there doesn't mean we need it.

Partial fast - if something is getting too important in your life, take a break from it. When you get it back, it will inspire fresh gratitude.

Say "no" to yourself and deal with it.

Prov. 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control" If you don't have self-control, it allows the enemy to get in.

What can you give up for a week and have more time to spend with God?

3) Take Time To Play: Playing shows your children that you have faith that God can handle the things you're struggling with. If we're too busy, our kids will think they're unimportant.

Take time with your girlfriends

Ditch laundry and take the kids to the park

4) Teach Forgiveness: Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it's a permanent attitude.

Own your offense, humbly respond (make retribution), and ask / accept forgiveness.

Psalm 139 - Pray for God to find where you need to ask for forgiveness.

Forgive and then LET GO.

Daily receive fresh mercies - God knows you'll make mistakes.

When you blow it, use yourself as an example. Tell them how you should have handled it, ask for forgiveness ,and then teach them how to pray to God for forgiveness.

Even if you mess up, God has made a way for you. It's okay. Your identity is not tied in with the choices your children make. Your choices define you, but they effect your entire family.

Psalm 32:1-2 "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." Actively teach them what forgiveness looks like.

5) Give a Blessing: Share what God has shown you, what you want Him to show you, and what you've learned.

Speak truth and life into your kids. Our children are like blank canvases, they don't know who they are - they only know what we tell them.

If you're unsure of who your child is, pray this: Lord, show me who my child is and give them a heart for it.

 

Always separate what your child does from who they are. She is not a bad girl or stupid girl, what she did was bad or stupid. Never let you child walk away with a closed spirit.

 

Tell the truth in love to your children. Be sure to confront laziness or below-standard efforts. You're not doing your child any favors by only telling them they're perfect at everything.

Measure your words - words have power!

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 

Remind yourself that God loves  you

 

Bless others - look for the good and tell them

 

Tell your child how much you love them and things you see good in their lives.

Am I Doing This Right?

Am I Doing This Right

Notes from the Hearts at Home 2010 Session

with Sharon Autry and Laurie Hillard (momandlovingit.org)

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go

train - aim at a goal or objective - decide what we want the end to look like so we know what to do now.

In America, we spend lots of time on the mind (school & tutors) and the body (sports at early ages), but what's most important to you?

What are three things you want your children to be known for when they're grown up? (List your own)

1) Strong relationship with Christ (faithful)

2) Respectful

3) Generous (helpful) with everything - time, talents, money

The HEART is most important to God

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Prov. 4:20-23

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Sam. 16:7

Shouldn't your child's heart be most important to you too?

How do we reach the heart?

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deut. 6:6-7

Rules without a relationship = rebellion

Kids don't care how much we know until they know how much we care.

Communicate Along The Way

Written notes, journal with your kids (http://www.momandlovingit.org/MeMs/MeM_2009-10w.html), e-mail or text if you have to because you need to be in THEIR world. Be creative and think outside of the box.

Laugh Along The Way - Lighten up!

Smile more - it's healthy for you and your home. Even say "no" with a smile.

Be a "yes" mom whenever you can

Dream with them

Do a "Pajama Run" (wake the kids up after you've put them to bed and go out to get ice cream)

Sometimes you just need to scream

Read books together

Sometimes you need to get on their level

Cook together

Be Patient Along The Way

Kids know if you're really listening

Don't see the stuff that bothers you - Lord, give me your eyes to see them as you do.

Find out your child's love language - touch and affection, encouragement, gifts, acts of service, or quality time - and make an effort to use it.

What you say about your children in front of someone else is what they'll remember.

Introduce your child in a positive way

Your children are more important and precious than a broken plate or spilled drink.

Pray Along The Way

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9

Pray about their fears with them, even the monsters under their beds. Pray daily and consistently!
Praying Daily for your Children Calendar - http://www.momandlovingit.org/MeMs/MeM_2009-10w.html

6 P's to Pray for your Children

Passion for God

For them to know their Purpose in life

That they would have good Peers that they hang around with

Future Partner

Purity

Praise - that they'll learn how to be grateful to God in all circumstances

Practice Along The Way

Spiritual Applications - use life illustrations to share Christ with your children.

Scripture Memory - Dry erase on mirrors

Scripture Songs - Hide 'Em In Your Heart - songs that sing the scripture.

Model It

Life and love today, because we only have these days!

Fruit Salsa

Ingredients

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
•  
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 cups cinnamon sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.