Encouraging the Children in Our Lives

It's that time of the summer when our church holds their week of Vacation Bible School. It's the time of year when we get the chance to spiritually influence our kids every day for an entire week. It's a time of fond memories for me - cookies and Koolaid; silly songs and games; scissors, paint and glue; Bible stories; and of course loving, caring teachers who made a difference in my spiritual walk.

VBS teachers take care of your child's spiritual needs for one week, and perhaps a family vacation in natural surroundings takes care of teaching our children about God's creation for a second week. But, what are your plans for teaching God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit to your children the other 50 weeks of the year?

Cheri Fuller in her book The Fragrance of Kindness gives us some creative ways to encourage our children with words:

• Tuck notes of encouragement and relevant scripture in lunch bags
• Write a love letter to your child and push it under their door.
• Write an "I'm sorry I lost my cool" note, decorate it with stickers and colored markers.
• Show up at a sporting event, school play, or other important day in your child's life and say, "I'm proud of you!"
• Pray with your child when they struggle with direction in his/her life.

The Bible give us clear direction on speaking important and timely words to your children in Deuteronomy 6:6-9:

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up...You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates"

- author, Cindy Daniels

What are some ways you plan to spirtually encourage the children in your life?