Pray Every Day

Do you ever feel alone in your parenting? Ever experience confusion or anxiety about the decisions you make for your children? Most parents do. In these times, it is important to remember that we are not alone. Just as you are there to support, encourage, and help your child, God is there for you. You are His child and He wants to help you in all things, including your parenting. Don’t try to do it alone. God wants to be a part of your life, your family, and your parenting, so let Him. We let God help us by praying every day. This regular conversation allows you to build a relationship with God, and the closer you are, the more easily you will hear His direction, guidance, and blessings. Pray daily for yourself, your spouse, and your children.Thank Him for the good things happening in your family and ask for help with your struggles. Ask Him to help you be the parent He wants you to be. When you feel connected to God and can hear His direction and receive His guidance, you will be better able to make smart parenting choices. Want more on the power of prayer and how to let God guide your family? Register for a Smarter Parenting tele-class. For more details, go to www.MotheringLikeTheFather.com and click on Parent Coaching.

Easter Fun

Easter is my very favorite holiday. It is the day we set aside to formally recognize the amazing sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf when He died on the cross. Pagan traditions associating spring time with birth and renewal brought us the bunnies and chicks, but we can use those images to redirect our attention back to Jesus.

1. Make a connection.

Talk to your kids about the forms of rebirth we can see, such as flowers reappearing after their long winter's sleep. Jesus also reappeared after three days in the tomb, and He came back with the message that we will be with Him again. Go on a walk around your neighborhood to look for emerging flowers and talk about how they "come back to life" and how that reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus.

2. Act it out.

Read Luke 24 with your family. You can paraphrase for young children. Talk about Jesus' return, including how the women went to the tomb and found it open, and their response. Work together as a family to make a skit showing the return of Jesus and how people responded (the women falling at His feet, the disciples not recognizing Him, etc.). Keep it fun and light. Focus on the events after the resurrection, not the Crucifixion itself, particularly with very young kids.

3. Bake it up.

Google a recipe for Resurrection Cookies and make a batch with your kids. These fun meringues are hollow inside, representing the empty tomb.

4. Open eggs.

Get a set of Resurrection Eggs (available at WalMart) to help your kids understand the events of Good Friday and Easter. Each egg contains an object to help kids remember what happened. The included book walks you through the Easter story.

5. Build a veiled cross.

Use craft sticks, clay, pipe cleaners, or any material you have on hand to construct a cross. Tear a thin sheet of fabric and talk about how the veil at the temple was torn, indicating our new ability to interact directly with God. Wrap the veil around the cross and use it to decorate your festivities.

6. Learn about lambs.

Go to a petting zoo and talk about lambs. Jesus is called "the Lamb," but this may not mean much to kids who don't know about the animals. Observe the creatures, pet them if possible, and talk to your kids about why Jesus might be called "the Lamb."

What other fun things can you do to help your children understand Easter?

Happy Easter!

Packing A Miracle

“…Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” – John 6:9

Do you ever get tired of packing lunches and snacks for your kids? I sure do. One of the many things I love about summer vacation is the long break from filling lunchboxes and washing water bottles.

In the Biblical account of Jesus feeding five thousand people, meal time rolls around and no one is prepared. The people are hungry and there is no food available. However, one boy offers to share his five loaves of bread and two small fish. Jesus gives thanks for this food, and miraculously uses it to feed all of the people until they are full, then the disciples gather up twelve baskets of leftovers.

Now, how do you suppose the boy got that food? One can assume his mom packed it for him. That is what moms do—they think ahead to what their children might need for the day. When they know their kids will be running around outside all day, they tuck snacks into pockets and canteens of water over shoulders. They load up lunchboxes and water bottles for school. They plan treats for special occasions and fun lunches for play dates. Moms plan, prepare, and pack.

Yet I often forget the value and the potential power of this loving effort. When the boy’s mom sent him out with bread and fish, she had no way of knowing her meager meal would become a miracle. We don’t know when that might happen either. But God can use anything, even a snack, to reach people and show His love.

Consider the conversations around the lunchroom tables. “My mom packed my favorite sandwich for me!” “Ugh, my mom packed a banana again.” “I got cookies in my lunch, do you want one?” For my oldest daughter, one day that conversation led to a boy asking her about Jesus.

We often show our kids love through what we pack, and our kids can use that to share, help and encourage their friends. When my daughter was in first grade, a classmate never brought a snack to school, so she shared hers. In fourth grade, the boy who asked her about Jesus at lunch wanted to know more while they sucked on lollipops and waited for their afternoon carpools.

Food can break down barriers, make conversation easier, and allow people to seem more real or down to earth. Sometimes it is more comfortable for kids to bring up sensitive topics with something in their mouths.

The next time you pack a lunch or a snack, remember the mom who packed the five loaves and two fish for her little boy, and expect a miracle.

Make Fruit More Fun With This Simple Dip

Most kids like the sweetness of fruit, but if yours don’t, or if they don’t eat enough fruit, this fun dip may help.

Put one 8oz block of cream cheese (cut up if necessary), ½ cup of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla in a blender or food processor. Whirl until smooth. If needed, you can thin it a bit with a tablespoon of milk.

Let the kids dunk slices of fruit into the dip. If you like, you can also provide a dish of finely chopped peanuts or pecans (or any other nut). Dip a slice of fruit into the cream cheese mixture, then roll it in the nuts for a crunchy variation.

Enjoy!