I don't know who first said it, but I've heard numerous people say that
With chapters on: Self-Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty and Faith, it's a book I can't afford to NOT read to my kids.
One of the first time we sat down to read I tried to explain the virtues in terms my five year old and my three year old could understand. I compared self-discipline to self-control as they know the fruits of the spirit well. My three year old (Noraa) said sweetly, "Oh, self-control! That's what I'm working on!"
But, back to last night. I read a poem about perseverance explaining to my girls what it means to not give up. I gave an example (them saying they "can't" clean up the toys) and it seemed to sink in a bit. When we said prayers Grace asked me to pray perseverance for her.
To desire virtues...lesson #1.
When it was their turn to pray, I was touched. I told Noraa to say to God what was on her heart and on her mind: she prayed "You are on my heart and You are on my mind, and I love you."...lesson #2.
As my children continued on in their prayers I caught sweet sentences amidst the mumblings. Things like:
"Jesus please open up my forehead and come into my heart, then close my forehead and lock it and throw away the key so you can never get out."... lesson #3
"Jesus please help me to not use the word can't, because I know that You told me that I can."...lesson #4.
Oh the lessons I learn each day from my children!
Thank you Lord for blessing me with "little leaders"!
"Leadership is done best by example."
Last night my children lead me spiritually. As we sat down to do our evening prayers I read them a quick story from the "Book of Virtues". A new tradition we recently started. It's a book my mother used to read to me when I was a child.With chapters on: Self-Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty and Faith, it's a book I can't afford to NOT read to my kids.
One of the first time we sat down to read I tried to explain the virtues in terms my five year old and my three year old could understand. I compared self-discipline to self-control as they know the fruits of the spirit well. My three year old (Noraa) said sweetly, "Oh, self-control! That's what I'm working on!"
But, back to last night. I read a poem about perseverance explaining to my girls what it means to not give up. I gave an example (them saying they "can't" clean up the toys) and it seemed to sink in a bit. When we said prayers Grace asked me to pray perseverance for her.
To desire virtues...lesson #1.
When it was their turn to pray, I was touched. I told Noraa to say to God what was on her heart and on her mind: she prayed "You are on my heart and You are on my mind, and I love you."...lesson #2.
As my children continued on in their prayers I caught sweet sentences amidst the mumblings. Things like:
"Jesus please open up my forehead and come into my heart, then close my forehead and lock it and throw away the key so you can never get out."... lesson #3
"Jesus please help me to not use the word can't, because I know that You told me that I can."...lesson #4.
Oh the lessons I learn each day from my children!
Thank you Lord for blessing me with "little leaders"!
For more What I learned This Week, check out the host page @Musings of a Housewife
This week hosted by From Inmates to Playdates.
3 comments:
Beautiful prayers - thanks for sharing and blessing us!
How precious and sweet!! Isn't it noteworthy to remember that Jesus said, "...except ye become as little children..."
I have read the children's version of that book to my girls; now I need to see about reading them the "adult" one.
That's so encouraging! Our kids can really point us in the right direction.
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