“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8) This is hard enough to do for ourselves, so how can we start to train our children to do this as well? As adults there are many things that can distract us from focusing on the good like ungodly relationships, being overly busy, social media, television, work, ambition, etc.
Our children see and know what our priorities are, and the things that are important to us will likely become important to them too. We can’t expect them to think on good things if we don’t also. One thing we can do is place things, people, and opportunities in our lives and theirs for them to see God all around.
The main job of a child is play. It is through play that they explore their world around them, learn language, imagine, and work out in their minds social scenarios. Things like being too busy or constantly behind a screen can steal these opportunities. I have sat often at this computer with my daughter behind me playing Barbies. She sets her Barbies in a circle and the teacher asks her students what song they want to sing before they break out into “The Army Song.” She imitates worshipping God! I also hear the adult Barbies admonishing the kids for kindness. My son explores the behaviors of his goats and tries to teach them fairness (doesn’t usually set in). He sees the instinctual behaviors in the mothers to care for their young and is able to compare how that is like how God cares for us, or maybe how it isn’t. Give your children free time to search for and follow God. They might be bored at first, but then they will discover the wonder and beauty of the imagination God gave them and with such explore and find God. Books often paint images of who God is in ways our kids can understand and can initiate dialogue for us to teach our kids. We have many we are willing to share!
A week ago a number of us got together for a family game night. I saw my son live his dream of many of his role models playing kickball with him and his friends. I saw a friend’s child’s face freeze when he got struck out and saw him contemplating how he should respond. I saw adults who weren’t his parents encourage him, tell him he did a good job, but also gently draw him back to home plate to await his next turn which he decided to do so proudly. Surround your children with people who will unveil Christ in their actions, admonishments, and encouragements and who will always lead them home to Him! Fill their lives and yours with people who are kind, gracious, and who give God glory with their lives.
As a homeschool mom, I feel tremendous pressure to make sure my kids aren’t missing out on valuable opportunities they have in public school. I want them to learn music, sports, art, be well socialized, all the things! But more important than that is the opportunities they have to see and experience Jesus and being a disciple. This needs to be more than just a Sunday thing if we want Jesus to be Lord over their whole life. Give them opportunities to serve others or even animals. Encourage them to care for others, check in on them, plan gifts, write cards. Take time to share where you see Jesus together. He’s with us at each moment and He loves our children so much! Let them see Him with them at each moment. Teach them that He is with them when they face each giant.
Casting all their cares upon Him will be so much easier if they have seen Him all around, if they have experienced His love and presence through others, through His creation, and through each moment of their days.