|
Faith Topics
The Power of Teachable Moments
Creativity Counts
Consider the lowly potato. If the only way you served potatoes was boiled or
mashed without any salt, pepper, butter or gravy, your family would quickly
tire of eating them. But if you could come up with a different way to serve
potatoes every night of the week, your family would not get sick of them. You
could make french fries; potato salad; baked potatoes with sour cream, chives
and bacon bits; even potato pancakes. You’d be using the same basic ingredient
every night — potatoes — but the different spices you add and the
variety of presentations would keep your children’s taste buds begging
for more.
Never forget that God has given us the gifts of humor and laughter.
|
Just as there are countless ways to serve potatoes, so there are countless
ways in which to teach the Bible so that each session is challenging, exciting
and rewarding for everyone. Planned teachable moments offer a fresh “recipe”
to train your children in their Christian faith. Vary your approach to Bible
training and you’ll find catalysts for discussion just about anywhere.
Use your kids’ creativity. Even after you’ve decided on a method
and a plan, stay open to creative suggestions and alternative ideas. Give them
options and ask them how they would like to approach learning a certain Bible
topic. They may suggest off-the-wall things like learning about spiritual warfare
by playing laser tag; but if you go with it, they’ll never forget the
experience or the lesson.
If your children have musical gifts, why not let them use music in their spiritual
growth? Have them write a song about God’s love or about a particular
aspect of their relationship with God and perform it for the family. If they
are artistic, why not encourage them to try to give expression to God’s
forgiveness by drawing on paper or sculpting with clay? This will establish
a connection between your kids’ talents and the things of the Spirit.
Never forget that God has given us the gifts of humor and laughter. No matter
how dry the activity or lesson, slow down and relax enough to let in some joking
around, a little wrestling or tickling with your kids, and maybe some humorous
storytelling with your older ones. Sometimes you may end up on an entirely different
topic, but the time together and the wisdom shared won’t be forgotten.
— Marianne K. Hering
Adapted from The
Power of Teachable Moments by Jim Weidmann and Marianne Hering, Copyright
© 2004, Focus on the Family. Used by permission.
Do you have thoughts, questions, advice on this topic? Post your stories and comments in the forum for other parents to respond to. Enter the forum now.
|
 |
|
