I am convinced that creating traditions for our families is one of the most important parts of parenting.  A church friend of mine started the tradition of acting out the Easter story in their den when their oldest, now 11, was still quite little.  Several years, 3 kids, and lots of treasured memories later, they are still at it.

How did this special tradition get started?  I’ll let her share…
“We read aloud to our children quite a bit when they were young.  They enjoyed the Read Aloud Bible Stories by Ella Lindvall.  They would hear “A Sad Day and a Happy Day” from Volume 2 often.  They knew the sequence of Jesus dying for our sins and age appropriate details of his death.  We talked with them about the quiet weekend and then celebrating Jesus rising from the dead on Resurrection Day.  Also, we have always had a big box full of stuff that serves as props for pretend play.  It holds things like costumes, big pieces of fabric, sashes and hats.

One Easter weekend, Alisa was playing in her room and began to act out the story.  We encouraged it by bringing out couch cushions for the “tomb”.  As the children aged each year (and God brought us Hannah), they would act it out in more detail.  We did not anticipate that this would become a tradition.  All we did was read and talk about truths of the Bible.  I think kids will act out stories that they know and that’s what they did.”

Here’s a peek into the VanEerden living room from a couple of the years!

From 2009 – Left to Right
– Jesus being wrapped in cloth in the tomb
– Angel rolling the stone away
– Soldier fainted
– Nail scarred hands

From 2012 – Left to Right Below
– Carrying the cross
– Jesus on the cross being pierced in the side
– Woman at the tomb, soldier fainted
– Happy JESUS IS ALIVE!!!

I’m willing to bet that these kids will carry on this tradition with their own children some day.  Don’t you think so?

What’s your favorite family Easter tradition?

Not sure about the true meaning of Easter?
Or, do you struggle in knowing how to explain the purpose of Easter to your children?
See the topic of “Salvation” in your copy of Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

You know those “My child is on the honor roll” bumper stickers?

On Dennis Prager’s 2/18/14 radio broadcast, I heard him mention something interesting regarding those car labels…

He said, “I’ve never been impressed with that saying.  How about, ‘My child is honorable!’  What’s more important?”

TRUTH, Mr. Prager!

Next time we see one of those stickers on the back of a car, let’s make use of that teachable moment with our kids! 

Ask and discuss:
Would I rather you be a honor student or honorable?

What does it mean to be honorable, what does God say about it, and what are some creative ways to help my child understand?
Refer to the related topics of Character and Integrity in your copy of Parenting with Scripture:  A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments. 

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
Hebrews 13:18

What a beautiful verse to turn into a prayer for our children…

“Dearest Heavenly Father,
Please help our children to have clear consciences before you and desire to live honorably in every way.
Please give us YOUR wisdom as we teach and parent them to this end.
Let us, as parents, have the same desire for our own lives.
Thank You for Your grace when we are less than honorable.
Help us love our children the way You love us.
In Your Son’s Holy Name,
Amen”

Image courtesy of Creative Commons

Last April Fool’s Day I had a few of you thinking I had lost my mind with my “Pet Parenting with Scripture” blog title.   However, the concept did actually bring up some interesting points and I wanted to include a couple of additional ones here.

Caring for Pets –
Reader Kay Pickar shared the following in response to that blog –

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10
We’ve had to talk about this verse a few times when the kids were too rough with a pet
or they didn’t want to take the time to feed our pet.
It’s been a good discussion.

Conversation to have with your kids about animals before it’s too late!
Yes, we need take good care of any animal we bring to our home as a pet.
However, we also need to help kids understand the value of their lives versus the pet’s. 
Anyone else have a door dasher dog?
We’ve got two of our own and have fostered a few through a rescue group, and this is our cautionary tale… 

One day, foster Gumbo bolted out the door and the kids and I dashed after him as fast as we could.  I was terrified that Gumbo was going to dart in front of a car.  But, I was even more terrified  that my kids would run into the street after him without thinking since they were in such hot pursuit after this little doggy that we had been entrusted to care for and had come to adore.

Thankfully we caught him, but it reminded me that I needed to have a serious chat with my kids about the value of their lives versus our pets’. 
I shared the following – 
*As much as we love our pets/animals, people are always more important.
*If it’s a choice between the pet or you getting hurt, make the decision to keep yourself safe. 
Then I threw out several “What if?” scenarios to see if they really understood.
I want them to have already thought through these things so they will be equipped when split second decisions are necessary!

This is serious business, folks!
I’m still haunted by this tragic news story where three family members drown trying to save their dog.  After watching my kids running after Gumbo to try to catch and protect him,  I can more easily see how something like that could happen.

Hence, my conversation with my kids and my encouragement to you, my lovely readers, to do the same.

This was the day we picked up Gumbo from the rescue.
He was a scruffy mess, but stole my heart right away!

Lookin’ good after his first grooming!
He could finally see the world!

For teachable moments on all sorts of topics, don’t forget to refer to your copy of
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

St. Patrick’s Day can be an occasion for some silly family fun as well as a teachable moment with Scripture!

Did you know that St. Patrick used the Shamrock to teach about the Trinity?  
CLICK HERE to read more about that and see 7 simple shamrock crafts with instructions.

Create fun memories with your family by playing St. Patrick’s Day minute-to-win-it games!   Surprise your family with the supplies to play these games on or around St. Patrick’s Day.  Have your camera ready, because they are sure to make for some great Kodak moments!

CLICK HERE for the link we used for the 10 Minute-to-Win-it Games.

No need to score, but our family enjoys friendly competition!

“They’re After Me Lucky Charms!” game

I can assure you that my kids will never forget when I picked them up from a playdate wearing this neon green wig!
All our hats, wig, and headbands were found at Target dollar section or dollar store.
This is a picture of the “Gold Digger” game.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14

 Don’t forget that you can make use of Scripture in teachable moments every day with your copy of
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.

“I can’t get that picture out of my head!”

This was the lament of one of my carpool kids one morning on the way to school.
He was referring to a photo of his sister’s removed tonsils.  Ha, I can only imagine!

What a great teachable moment!

We talked about how what we look at can stick with us and continue to impact us.  He still grimaced as he talked about the picture he had seen a couple of years prior. 

This is the very reason we want to guard our eyes from sinful things and are careful about what we watch on television, movies, video games, and computers.   There are good reasons we parents have rules about such things!  🙂

It was also a great chance to remind them that if anything they know is wrong pops up on a computer to look away quickly and let an adult know immediately!

I couldn’t think of a related Bible verse right away, so I asked if they could.
These aren’t Biblical, but they are wise…

*  One kid said that it reminded her of the preschool song, “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.”

*  Another one thought of the funny monkeys and their “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” hands.

I loved how those comments contributed to the overall discussion.  It’s always amazing to hear how kids interpret and connect things.

On the way home from school, I followed up with this verse and talked about how our eyes are sticky.  Meaning, we can’t “unsee” things.  The images stick with us and impact our lives.

From Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount –
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Matthew 6:22-23

Do your kids know that their eyes are sticky?

If you want to know more about teachable moments, how to look for them, and what to do when one happens, see the first few pages of your copy of
Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments.