Showing appreciation is one of the best ways we can bless others.  I like to keep my calendar marked at the beginning of October for Pastor Appreciation Month so our family doesn’t forget to honor these special people in our lives.  Grab your copy of Parenting with Scripture and use the topic “Appreciation” to help your family discuss the topic. 

Pinterest is my go-to for quick creative ideas these days and a quick search of “Pastor Appreciation” gave me some great ones!  Gotta’ love the plant with the tag “Thanks for helping us grow!”  Or, the pyramid of Mountain Dew cans with a poster above that says, “A mountain of thanks for all you dew!”  How about the candy bar appreciation letter with phrases such as, “We know it’s not easy preaching to Lemonheads and Airheads!” 

Hope these fun suggestions get you excited about involving your kids to appreciate those pastors!  PS – For those of you at my church, I get dibs on the candy bar appreciation letter!  🙂

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you,
who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
Live in peace with each other. 
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

We sat down for our family devotional and I handed Parenting with Scripture to Jake (9 years old) and instructed him to pick a topic for us to discuss.  He decided flip the book open and go with whatever came up.  When he looked at the topic and saw, “Fighting,”  he pumped his fist and yelled “YES!”   LOL!  Boys!  I told Jake’s karate teacher the other day that I think he wishes his life was one big action movie!  Hmmmm…could the Bible live up to his high hopes for an action-packed family devotional?  Indeed it could!  After going through the first few discussion questions listed with references to Scripture on not fighting, we got to what the Bible says we can fight! 

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6: 12

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  2 Corinthians 10:4

Oooooo, weapons!  What are those weapons?  Tim looked up the “armor of God” and we pretended to put each of the parts on as he read. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:10-17

Makes me grin to think how God knew just what my little boy needed to hear that night! 

If you are looking for a family devotional, don’t forget Parenting with Scripture as a topical option. 

We can thank our the firemen who protect our own cities as a way to remember those who served so bravely on 9-11.  Last year, we baked cookies and the kids made this card.  The firemen who greeted us at the door, looked surprised and touched when we explained why we were bringing them. 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

This verse, along with my top 15 favorite verses for teachable moments,
can be found in Parenting with Scripture on pages 234-235…Or, as a free printable on my website at this link-

http://www.parentingwithscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/pws_15_fab_verses_outlines1.pdf

In honor of Labor Day, have a discussion about what kind of “work” each family member does.  This may include playing nicely, chores, instrument practice, or official jobs in or out of the home.  These are the “whatever we do” of our day-to-day lives.  Talk about these “jobs” in relation to the Colossians verse and how they can be done with thankfulness in the name of Jesus. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 
Colossians 3:17