Lately in our home we have been having lots of discussions about things like
Choices.
Taking responsibility for our actions.
Trust in God.
Trust in each other.
Trust that must be earned back after it has been lost.
Any of these conversations going on in your home?
They are happening more and more frequently as our oldest enters this next stage of life.
The other day my dear friend and her infant son were visiting us. And as I asked her how she was dealing with the challenges of being a new mommy, we began talking all about the sleep deprivation and the feedings and the diaper rashes and the changes that have taken place in her life and her marriage as a result of being first time parents.
And as she shared, my mind was racing with these thoughts.
“Oh girl, this is the EASY part! You may be tired but this precious baby isn’t talking back. He isn’t getting caught in a lie. He isn’t starting to face peer pressure. He doesn’t have an attitude!”
Of course, I didn’t actually say ANY of that. Because, well, she’ll learn soon enough.
And, I know that those of you who have older kids are thinking the same thing as you read this.
I will learn soon enough too, won’t I?
I don’t have a teenager yet, or even a pre-teen.
I can hear the collective, “oh, just wait!”
But, for now, this is my reality. And I have come to realize that teaching my (almost) 4 year old to share her toys is a lot easier than this season of navigating our 8 yr. old son through the
new life challenges he is facing.
So, along with these discussions about choices, responsibility and trust, we have also decided that we need to create some fun ways to illustrate the lessons we are trying to instill.
This is an activity we did this week. It took all of 1/2 hour.
But I think/pray/hope the take-away message will last a lot longer than that!
We began by heading out to the back yard after dinner.
I had asked Ian to grab his Adventure Bible and bring it out with us.
We all piled onto the hammock (which fortunately held us all without breaking!) and we asked Ian to read from Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
We then had him stand up and we blindfolded him with my lovely long sparkly scarf.
I know we have a bandana somewhere but I just couldn’t find it!
Then we told him to start walking.
And we were very quiet.
And he walked….slowly…inching along the grass.
And we were quiet.
And he started to get nervous.
So we offered some direction.
“Go 5 steps forward buddy.”
“Now, turn to the left just slightly.”
“Trust us that we won’t let you run into something.”
“Keep going straight…turn to the right and keep going.”
“You made it across the entire yard!”
“You made it across the entire yard!”
Of course he wanted to try giving mom and dad directions so we got our turns being blindfolded too!
Which, of course turned into a game of, “let’s see how dumb we can make our parents look and lead them in circles all over the yard while we laugh hysterically.”
But, after that, we talked for a little while.
About choices, responsibility and trust.
And how in this world, things can get very murky or foggy or even just pitch black dark!
These are the times when we could use a light to guide us.
And we just happen to have one!
When everything else seems confusing and out of control.
When people will entice you to step on over to THEIR path…which of course has lots more people on it!
When the right choice is the hardest choice.
When others take any and every opportunity to point the finger…shift the blame…shirk responsibility.
That is when His Word becomes “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path”.
Guiding
Directing
Never leading us in the wrong direction
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gage and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14
Thank you for meeting me here today at the Fence,
Sharing this at
LOVED this!!!
What a good read on a Sunday morning.. Thanks for sharing
Pattie
My, that hits the spot this week as I’m dealing with 15 year old! Thanks for the encouraging words. 🙂
Wow, what a great post. As I prepare to mentally handle a newborn, I can’t help but think of how we’ll manage to lead him in the right direction. Sharing this with my hubby!
A great lesson and a wonderful post!
Great post Vanessa!
I can so relate. Great post. Perfect Sunday night read.
This was a great lesson for your son…I am going to have to bookmark this and do this with my two oldest. Thank you very much for sharing!
Awww, you’re such a good mama! What a wonderful way to get your point across.
Very nice activity! I can visualize your kids laughing hysterically as they have you walking around in circles. Those sorts of activities really help develop a sense of trust, love and connection between kids and their parents. (you may not see it now, but its true). Have a great day!
Hi Vanessa,
what a great post, it is so refreshing to see young parents who are trying to navigate their children in the right direction. Good for you, cause you are right on about the narrow gate, so if we don’t lead them, who will………I tell you who will, the enemy of our soul!!! Those object lessons stay with them a lot longer than just our words, altho they stick too…………..so good for you that you are employing some fun teaching along with the truth of God’s word.
Blessings to and on your family,
Nellie
How awesome! I love life lessons with kids because I always learn something as well. Enjoyed your blog so much! Thanks.
This is lovely, Vanessa! What a great way to make the point on a level that he can understand.
Here’s another application for you: when you have a trusted friend over sometime, use the blindfold again. This time, both you and the friend can give directions. Then let another voice speak–maybe the friend disguising his voice, or a recording, or something. That other voice should direct them in the opposite way of where they should go. Your kids can learn that they should listen to voices they know and trust, just as they will come to know the voice of the Good Shepherd, and they can trust Him! (“My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me” [John 10:27]).
Thanks so much for linking up to Grace Imparted and for helping me spread the word!