Tag: parenting
How to Talk to Your Kids about Friends with Special Needs
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As the parent of a child who is on the Autism Spectrum, I deeply desire for him to have real friendships and the chance to play with other kids who are his own age. But I also know that throwing him into unregulated play is sometimes taking a big gamble. Will he have an emotional outburst or will something done during play contribute to a sensory overload that will cause him to react, scaring or confusing the other kids or alienating him from these children and potential friendships? Will the desire for him to be included in with his peers eventually lead to self-esteem issues, schoolyard bullying and social isolation?
These are the daily questions parents of special needs kids face: this ongoing teeter-totter of trying to balance the need for our children to have socialization and the need to protect them from psychological and even physical pain. It’s tough. It’s a balancing act that many of us aren’t exactly sure where or how to begin.
I need to tell you that I dislike the titles of “special” and “typical” we give kids, just like I dislike the word “normal”, but it’s how classifications work, so I’ll use them to clarify points. Just know that I personally believe every child is special in a very non-typical way, because God created them to be unique! That being said, I am also the mother of a typical child. He’s the older brother. Like many of you, I have taught my older son the Biblical lesson of loving his neighbors, hopefully leading by example. We have served in local missions to feed the hungry, put together many Christmas shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and are currently sponsoring children in Africa and South America. But what here at home? What about our kids even in our neighborhood or at his school who may have a learning or physical disability? How does he love them in a Biblical sense?
Loving our neighbor can come in the form of including all kinds of unique kids in our group of friends. It can mean going the extra mile and learning about their specific behaviors, which may seem odd to someone who is considered “typical” but which really are a natural mechanism in which they try to function in a world that may be simply too loud or too confusing at times. It is realizing that ALL kids desire friendship and then taking the first step to be that friend.
Being the hands and feet of Jesus can be done right in our own neighborhoods, churches, and school yards! (Matthew 25:40) The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”
My friend, Bill Nason, MS, LLP, who is a behavioral specialist, has developed a great Facebook discussion page in which he provides useful advice for parents and advocates to help children on the spectrum feel safe, accepted and competent. Using common strategies, he’s able to speak to individual strengths and challenges in our kids. Here are some wonderful suggestions that Bill has posted on his site for parents who want to organize play dates for their kids who may have self-regulation or sensory issues. This information is also great for school teachers and ministry leaders who teach in an inclusive Sunday school program! If you have a friend who has a child with autism, I encourage you to share this information with them. Bill writes the following:
“I usually recommend to parents to start with short, one on one play dates, that can be planned ahead of time, previewed and reviewed with the child in advance and facilitated to maximize success. I recommend doing the following for maximizing “peer play” or what some call “play dates.”
1. Plan ahead and preview what is going to happen. Make a list of what possible activities the child and his friend is going to play. Try to schedule out the play date with possible substitute activities if things do not go right. Always have a plan B ready.
2. Discuss with the child ahead of time the following:
a. What he can expect to happen; lay it out for him,
b. What will be expected of him.
c. How long it will last.
d. How he might handle any anticipated problems (sharing, taking turns, choosing activities, not getting his way, etc.)
3. Based on past play dates, discuss any problems he may have had and how he should handle them. If possible, role play them. Also role play and new games or activities, so he is familiar with them.
4. Prepare the activity the night before and then review everything again just before the event.
5. During the activity, observe closely and help scaffold the activity if needed. Let the activity flow naturally, unless you see little signs that your child is getting dysregulated. When you see possible problems (break down in regulation), then provide subtle redirection to help repair the breakdown.
6. After the activity is over, sit down with with and review how it went. Talk about what went well and what snags may have occurred. From your observations, pick one or two possible problems you saw, and review this with him and how he may want to handle them (taking turns, sharing, taking turns choosing activity, etc.). Try to have one main objective (social skill) that you are working on to help develop greater cooperative play skills.
7. Make a journal with a page for each play date. Make an outline form to fill out with the following information. Divide it in two sections:
a. Preparation: List of potential activities, plan B, potential problems with possible solutions.
b. Post Activity: What activities where played, what worked well, what snags occurred, and what to try next time.
8. If you notice that the friend is perplexed about, or uncomfortable with, your child’s behavior, then explain to the friend “what and why” your child is acting that way. Children feel most uncomfortable when they don’t understand what is occurring and how to react to it. However, most children are flexible when they know what to expect and how to react.
Do not be too quick to move on to (1) multiple players, and/or (2) unstructured activities until you build that into your play dates. Once your child seems to be building the cooperative play skills needed to co-regulate with one friend, then build in less structure and less facilitation to see how he does handling the “give and take” interaction, and repairing breakdowns in regulation. Take it slowly to maximize success. I see the greatest failure in moving too quick into the unstructured, multiple peer, play activities, similar to what you would find on a playground. This type of unstructured play requires way too much regulation for most of our children to learn from.”
If you’re a parent of a special needs child and have been trying to balance their need for socialization and their need for protection, like me… I’d love to hear your story! Please share it in the comments section. May God bless you and give you daily strength and wisdom.
About the Author: Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville, TN. Follow her blog at www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com
How To Talk To Your Kids About Death and Heaven
Death and Heaven. Not necessarily easy subjects to discuss, even for a Christian adult. While our faith rests in the hope of Eternal Life through Christ, for most of us, the death of a loved one who is a believer is still something with which we struggle to understand and cope with.
We may wonder how to protect the hearts of our children from pain when a death occurs in our family or circle of friends. How to do we tackle the subjects of physical death and the hope of Heaven, without totally scaring our kids, as we ourselves are dealing with our own plethora of emotions?
Several years ago, when my oldest son was only 5, our four-year-old nephew died after an eighteen month battle with brain cancer. We didn’t know how to explain cancer to our son, so instead we told him that his cousin went to Heaven because he had gotten “sick”. Little did we know that because we didn’t give him enough information, he internalized that everyone he loved COULD die if they simply got “sick”; meaning a simple cold could take mom or dad away to Heaven, just like his little cousin. It became a pretty scary thought for him, which he internalized for about a year!!
I spoke to a friend of mine who is also a therapist, because I needed to figure out how to help my son deal with his own grief and console him that there was a better than average chance that my husband and I were not going to die if we caught a cold. She told me that just like discussing the “facts of life” with our kids has to be done in intervals that answer their specific questions, as their maturity dictates, we need to also have honest communication with our kids about death.
It may be perfectly acceptable for a three-year-old to hear that grandma went to Heaven because Jesus called her home. While we will miss seeing her at Christmastime, we know that she is now in Heaven with grandpa! This helps explain why we are sad that she is no longer here with us, but also rejoicing that she is in Heaven. But if you have an older child who needs more information to alleviate undue anxiety, it might be important to talk to them about grandma’s heart being sick, or her cancer, etc.– still reassuring them that Heaven is a wonderful place that Jesus has prepared for us! While a lot of kids may not need any more information than that, be open to their questions and pray for guidance as you answer them truthfully, yet carefully. Although I have no medical credentials, I would advise everyone to also enlist the help of a child therapist or pastor if the concepts of death and the afterlife are just too hard to explain. Surrounding ourselves with a trusted, like-minded support group during times of grief is always a good idea!
The Bible reveals a few facts about what happens after we die. We can turn to these following scriptures for comfort and use them as a resource to help our kids better understand what happens at the end of our life, here on earth.
Believer’s can face death without fear! (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We will enter into the Lord’s presence at the time of our death! (2 Corinthians: 5-8) “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Jesus, himself, has prepared a special place in Heaven for each of us! (John 14:1-3) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Those who believe in Jesus are promised eternal life with Him after their physical death! (John 11:25-26) “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.””
If you’ve had to explain the death of a loved one to your child, how did you approach it? What additional resources would you recommend to other parents trying to explain this tough subject, while dealing with their own grief? Please share in the comments section.
About the Author: Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville, TN. Follow her blog at www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com
I Want To Be A Mom Like Deborah
Just recently, I began studying the Book of Judges. Specifically, I honed in on Deborah, who, before this study, I knew little about. As I read more about who Deborah was, I began to understand how I would really like to emulate her character–as a wife and mother.
Deborah lived in a time when there was no king over the nation of Israel, a time when the head of each family was responsible to teach faithfulness to God. Because of this, the people’s faith in God and loyalty to their nation was broken.
Deborah was incredibly wise. She was a prophetess who encouraged people to follow God’s Law and reminded them of His faithfulness. She was the only female judge in Israel. Because of her wisdom, people would come to her to help them sort through disputes. She was essentially responsible for leading the Israelites in battle against the Canaanites, yet she took no personal credit in the victory. But she was humble, the wife of Lappidoth, and even after a great military victory, described herself as simply, “a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7).
Obviously she possessed great leadership skills, but her greatest character traits were her unwavering faith in God and her personal relationship with Him.
My recent study of Deborah came at a time in my life when I was contemplating making career changes – changes that would have a definite impact on my family, especially my children. Admittedly, I was longing for a type of personal achievement in my professional career and I guess also a bit of prestige – some of the things that we stay-at-home, home-schooling moms seldom receive. While I prayed about this possible change, I kept hearing God tell me, “Not now.” It wasn’t a stern voice, admonishing me for being selfish, which is what I probably deserved–and even expected. No, God, my loving Father, knew my heart. He led me to His Word, and quite perfectly, He led me to read about Deborah; a mother in Israel, who He used for His great purpose.
God opened my eyes to the current career I have been personally called into BY GOD– motherhood; educator; advocate; wife; daughter; homemaker. He reminded me about the importance of these roles. He reminded me How my daily routine, while seemingly mundane to me, actually made a difference in the lives of those I love the most.
Studying Deborah has allowed me to re-evaluate my life, my purpose, and my calling. Deborah was concerned about people not personal success. In her example, we can all learn that God will accomplish great things through the people who are willing to trust Him! Like Deborah, I hope to learn the importance of fully relying on God, and pray for His daily guidance in every decision that I must make as a wife and mother.
This week I am keeping all of you women in prayer who are called by God to work at home with your kids. May God bless you with wisdom in your daily work as mother, mediator, counselor, educator and advisor.
About the Author: Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville, TN. Follow her blog at www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com
How to Talk to Our Kids About Food Allergies and Inclusion
If you aren’t the parent of a child who has severe food allergies, you may be wondering what this topic has to do with anything Biblical. The fact is that many parents spend a huge amount of time protecting their children from the hidden dangers that seemingly harmless food items can cause. Reading every label, asking to speak to a restaurant manager before sitting at the table, and providing education to all caregivers is something that these parents do without hesitation. There are many Bible verses about raising up and protecting our kids. Danger can sometimes be classified as something spiritual, but many times danger also encompasses the physical. Perhaps a surprising fact to some, a child with food allergies can actually die from complications if mom, dad, teacher or caregiver don’t take the necessary daily precautions to ensure their safety. I can’t think of any better word to define such daily acts of protection, other than LOVE.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Kids who have allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, dairy, shellfish or gluten learn early on the importance of how live within their limitations because it can be a matter of life or death. Most are taught by the time they’re in preschool how to avoid the foods which will hurt them. Even at this young of an age, they are keenly aware that they can not go anywhere unless an adult accompanying them is carrying their epinephrine pens, oral antihistamines, and an inhaler. This medication arsenal is just something that is taken wherever they go…in case of exposure. But what do the other kids–or even adults– think about these weird dietary restrictions and precautions? Are kids sometimes ostracized because they can’t eat what other kids eat?
As the mother of a child with a life threatening food allergy, I appreciate the openness of other adults who want to learn how to protect my son when he’s at their house or if they cook food for a gathering, which he’ll be exposed to. Actually “appreciate” is too mild of a word. I want to physically hug these wonderful people to express my sincerest gratitude, because for a long time people (even relatives) took my son’s food allergies pretty lightly, even to the point of ignoring simple requests to ensure his safety and my peace of mind. We missed several parties over the years because the risk of exposure was simply too great to ignore.
We must lovingly educate our kids about a few safety precautions. First, for our kids who DON’T have food allergies, remind them that it’s best if they don’t share or trade their food with another friend, in case there is a food allergy present. School age kids who DO have allergies need to be reminded to not eat any food with unknown ingredients or known to contain (or may contain) any allergen to which they are sensitive. This includes foods at any classroom, church or birthday party.
When we talk to our kids about food allergies, we must reassure them that other children who may have a special diet are still just regular kids in most other ways! God created us all to be a little different. In His eyes we are all wonderful in our uniqueness. Our friend may not be able to drink milk or eat eggs, but she likes to play the same games, and watch the same shows that we like. She likes to dance and swim and ride her bike. It’s okay to invite our friend over after school, and it’s definitely okay to invite he or she to a birthday party! We can help our kids grow into caring adults when they see us take the extra time to talk to the parents of their friends, ensuring that we can provide a safe environment for everyone.
If you are the parent in charge of bringing in food for a class or church gathering, it’s such a loving gesture to ask if there are any known food allergies which you should be aware of. Perhaps you can bring in gluten free cupcakes, a fruit platter or fresh veggies and dip. Making these simple additions to party planning enables everyone to feel included. Inclusion is such an important life lesson to give our children, especially with the prevalence of bullying going on these days.
It has become pretty common to have kids with food allergies in almost every classroom. Most schools have standards in place to help keep kids safe. But I urge the parents of kids with food allergies to continue to educate people in authority positions in their churches and any club that kids belong to. Two great sites for resources and downloads are the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Initiative.
Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN.
Confessions From An Imperfect Mom and the Power of Words
Last week as I was folding clothes in the downstairs laundry room, I heard running water. My first thought was, “Why is someone taking a shower at 3:30 in the afternoon?” I had just been upstairs ten minutes prior to this and both boys were playing quietly in their rooms. As I started walking towards the stairs to investigate who had gotten into the shower, I instantly realized the running water was coming from the hallway bathroom, downstairs. I knew something was terribly wrong! As I entered the bathroom, water was literally raining down from the exhaust fan and the can lights in out in our hallway! Knowing that directly above where I was standing was my youngest son’s room, I literally ran up the stairs to find the wood floor in his bedroom flooded!
He had plugged up the drain in his bathroom sink because he was playing with a newly put-together LEGO boat. After playing under the “waterfall” for a few minutes, he simply walked away with the water running, totally forgetting to shut it off. He then went into the bonus room and started playing something else, oblivious to the flood taking place in his room.
Great, ADHD strikes again!
Our house, now a total disaster, was also less than 30 days old! The absolute rage I felt as I began to clean up the water is still embarrassing to admit. Uncharacteristically, I yelled at my son. No beating around the bush– I was so mad at him! As he approached me, I told him not to talk to me! I was deep in thought about how we were going to fix this damage. How could this possibly happen in just 10 minutes? How could he have just walked off and left the water on?! … Oh so mad!!
And then I caught myself… WHAT AM I DOING?!! Get ahold of yourself, Lisa! This is just STUFF and it can be fixed or replaced; he is your child and part of your heart!!
My son was now crying, obviously scared at my freaky metamorphosis into the Mean Momster. From on top of his bed, he apologized and told me (again) that it was an accident. He equated my anger to hating him and told me so. Ouch!
With a fragment of clarity, I enlisted the help of my oldest son, my husband and even my mother to be the clean up crew and call some professionals. I then climbed into bed with my little one. I held him and apologized to him for getting so angry. I told him how wrong it was not wanting to listen to him and then making him feel as though I hated him! I tried to reassure him that my momentary meltdown had nothing to do with my lack of love for him – that I could never stop loving him. He told me that it “felt” like I didn’t love him anymore because of they way I was talking to him after he had made a mistake. Humbled, I was reminded how words can be so destructive, especially to the ones we love the most.
The Bible has many examples of the power of words. They have even been compared to the sword in their affect to hurt (kill) others! Another example is found in James 1:26, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”
My son recovered from his bout with the Momster. He has also promised to not play in his bathroom sink anymore! I have learned a valuable lesson about priorities and remembering that mistakes happen– and will continue to happen. What matters most is to always remember we are caretakers of our children’s bodies AND hearts!
As parents we can teach our children that as we all stumble our way through our daily walk with Christ, we can be glad that He’s not expecting perfection. Instead He loves us all in our imperfections; even through our failures. It is only in Him that all things are possible. It is His arms of grace which He wraps around us whenever we make mistakes which make us feel undeserving of His love. The enemy tells us how we are deserving of God’s hate, wrath, or at the very least a good flick on the forehead! During those times, our Heavenly Father sits beside us and reminds us that nothing will change His love for us…even if make big, fat, damaging messes. He is in love with each of us. And thankfully, unlike we imperfect mommies (and daddies), our God does this without first changing into a mean momster!
Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN.
New Community & Conference: Allume
Last fall What’s in the Bible? had the privilege of being part of The Relevant Conference. Today we’re excited to help them share a big announcement:
The conference has a new name and has expanded into an encouraging, community for Christian women.
{Source: Allume.com}
We encourage you to check out their new site: Allume.com. Also, they’re having a Twitter party tonight at 9 PM EST under the hashtag #allume. One of the prizes they’ll be giving away during tonight’s party is a set of What’s in the Bible? Vol. 1-6, so be sure to join in the fun for a chance to win.
Buck’s Bible Roundup: January 25, 2012
Look to Buck’s Bible Roundup for the best blogs, articles, and resources from the week to help you effectively teach the Word of God in your homes and in your ministry.
Today’s Roundup:
1. The ABCs of God – iPad App Review (2 Teaching Mommies)
Review of an iPad app designed to teach what the Bible says about who God is.
Source: 2teachingmommies.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
2. Michelle Duggar – A Role Model for Gentleness (Women Living Well Ministries)
A look at being gentle in your parenting and how Michelle Duggar models this trait.
Source: womenlivingwell.org via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
3. Simple Ideas to Teach Your Children Scripture (The Better Mom)
Five creative ideas for teaching your children Scripture.
Source: thebettermom.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
4. Tearing Down the Impossible (Lysa TerKeurst)
Encouragement for dreams that seem impossible.
Source: lysaterkeurst.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
5. In My Heart – Psalm 46:10 (Totally Tots)
Printables to teach Psalm 46:10.
Source: totallytots.blogspot.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
Thanks for reading!
Spiritual Power Naps for Mom and Dad
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 Be strong. Be brave. Don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope. The king of Assyria has a huge army with him. But there’s a greater power with us than there is with him. The only thing he has is human strength. But the Lord our God is with us. He will help us. He’ll fight our battles.The people had great faith in what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.
Are you a parent that feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders these days? Perhaps it’s the economy that has caused a realistic worry about your family’s future. Even though we know that we should not be anxious in anything, we often still really struggle with taking ahold of that truth and then we compound things by worrying that we aren’t being great examples for our kids! Sometimes being a Christian parent feels like wading in a riptide zone – always having to swim against the current.
It can be mentally exhausting swimming against that tide. A little nap sounds wonderful!
When I was working in the medical field, I remember how the doctors who’d be on call 24+ hours would take power naps in order for them to stay on their game. It amazed me that these brief naps would totally rejuvenate them! Research has shown that these little naps are even more beneficial than longer naps because the person does not get into deep sleep, which would then cause grogginess and disorientation upon waking. Instead they fall asleep immediately and are easily awoken, feeling totally refreshed.
There’s a trick to these power naps, though. A person who is efficient at power napping is able to, in a way, “turn off their mind”. For this short span of time, they don’t worry about what needs to be done, what mistakes they have made during their day or what will happen during their absence. They’re able to formulate a personal inner peace that reinforces the belief that all will be well in the world for the few minutes they sleep.
In 2 Chronicles, when King Hezekiah told the people that the Lord was with them and would fight their battles, they RESTED upon his words. His reassurance gave them inner peace enabling them to do this.
Those words are still true and applicable in our own lives today! The Lord is with us, ready to fight our battles! Take refuge and rest in that knowledge! Lay down those heavy burdens and trust that He is there helping you.
If the mistakes of your past haunt you; if the future frightens you; or if you’re exhausted because you’re trying to be the super-glue that holds everyone in your family together in an unraveling world … rest on the the faithfulness of the Lord. He is with you. He will fight your battles.
Practice the idea of taking a spiritual power nap. Let go for a few minutes, knowing that your Father has it under control. Empty your mind and rest, as He renews your Spirit.
Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger, who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN. Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.
Buck’s Bible Roundup: January 19, 2012
Look to Buck’s Bible Roundup for the best blogs, articles, and resources from the week to help you effectively teach the Word of God in your homes and in your ministry.
Today’s Roundup:
1. Memory Verse Helps – Isaiah 1:18 (2 Teaching Mommies)
Printables to help your kids memorize Isaiah 1:18.
Source: 2teachingmommies.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
2. Seven Ways To Keep Your Home Strong (A Holy Experience)
Seven ways to build a house of prayer.
Source: aholyexperience.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
3. Sometimes The Only Way to Read Our Kids is by Braille (The Gypsy Mama)
Thoughts on what it takes to truly see your children.
Source: thegypsymama.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
4. When My Wild Heart Pushes the Boundary (Lysa TerKeurst)
A look at boundaries and whether they are cruel barriers or safe freedoms.
Source: lysaterkeurst.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
5. Quiet Times for Desperate Mothers (Raising Homemakers)
Suggestions for making daily time in the Word work with a busy family schedule.
Source: raisinghomemakers.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
6. Memory Verse Helps – Matthew 4:19 (2 Teaching Mommies)
Printables to help your kids memorize Matthew 4:19.
Source: 2teachingmommies.com via whatsinthebible on Pinterest
Thanks for reading!
Family Resolutions Series: Getting Spiritually Fit in 2012
We’ve spent the last couple weeks discussing our New Year’s resolutions. So far our concentration has been on making changes that will improve our physical bodies. This is because most of us focus our attention, especially during the first few months of the year, on losing weight and getting into shape.
But what about our spiritual selves? What changes can we make during the next twelve months that will help us get spiritually fit?
As I pondered this question, I knew I had to enlist the help of one of my best girlfriends, Kathy Lonsinger. Kathy has helped many people, worldwide, find comfort and direction in Jesus through her online ministry, A Gentle Answer. I came to Kathy asking her to write down her thoughts about helping our families get spiritually fit in the new year.
According to Kathy, “Every resolution or exercise program begins by evaluating your current condition. We usually determine we need to stop or start certain habits or behaviors such as STOP smoking, drinking, overeating, or overspending; or START exercising or saving money in order to reach our goals. If, as Christian families, we are going to begin 2012 trying to get spiritually fit we must examine our condition.
Does your family spend time in prayer?
Does your family worship with a body of believers?
Does your family seek first the kingdom of God so all “these” things will be added … health, financial, spiritual fitness?
Do you need to stop or start behaviors that are keeping you from being spiritually fit?
In order to answer some of these questions we don’t need a trainer that will yell at you loudly to motivate you, we simply need go back to the basics. We must obey the regimen already spelled out in scripture for a healthy Christian family.
The plan of salvation must be first.
His word tells us to:
SUIT UP
In the same way you put on your workout clothes to go to the gym, you must dress accordingly to tackle your spiritual fitness program.
The Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-11
“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.”
DEEP KNEE BENDS
Seeking advice from the experts and your doctor are always recommended when you begin and maintain your physical exercise program. By praying as a family you are seeking the counsel of God and presenting yourself for close examination in order to pinpoint areas of weakness. Children who see their parents exercise tend to exercise. Likewise, children who have the example of a prayer filled life tend to pray. Bend the knee, repeat often.
Pray in the Spirit on All Occasions: Ephesians 6:18
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
STRETCH
Stretching is for the purpose of preparing your body for the actual exercise. As Christians, we must stretch our knowledge of the Word of God. Add scripture memory and Bible Study to your family routine. Some great places to start:
1. As a family, read through Proverbs taking one chapter a day for a month. Highlight and memorize some of the verses together helping the younger children and keeping the length age appropriate.
2. Consider reading the words spoken by Jesus (using a Red Letter edition of the Bible) together as a family to find out what He actually says in scripture. If He tells you to do something…just do it! (Sorry Nike)
3. Don’t forget your “BE” Vitamins. Take a look at the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5.
4. Read Ephesians 5 and reflect on the verses outlining each family member’s instruction in the Bible… Wives/Husbands/Fathers-Mothers/Children.
WALK
Doctors always say to simply start walking to increase your fitness level. In order to begin our walk with Jesus we must walk as He walked. (1 Corinthians 11:1) As you continue imitating Christ, your children will be imitators of you. Imitate Christ, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. (Ephesians 5:1)
PRESS ON
Okay so you blew it in 2011! So what! Now…Press on toward what is ahead; the goal. Don’t you love the fact that we are allowed to start over? Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
REST
Our muscles need to rest in between workouts in order to repair, restore, and strengthen. We must also enter into HIS rest in order to repair, restore, and strengthen. In the Old Testament we are told to keep the Sabbath. Rest is necessary. In the New Testament we are invited to enter in to the rest, our Sabbath is the Lord. Rest in Him. Go to Hebrews 4 to read more on this.
As with any fitness program, you will have days when you fall off. Get back up and keep going!!!
On your mark…get set…GO!!!”
Kathy Lonsinger is a Christian, wife, mother of four, student of the bible, and the founder of A Gentle Answer Ministries. She is the editor and one of the writers for the ministry’s online magazine which features stories of hope, Christian media and entertainment, and family resources for parents and grandparents. Kathy has her own blog that reaches readers from Australia to Austin. She has been featured on National Christian Radio’s “The Parent’s Plate” and Our Daily Journal daily devotional. You can follow her on twitter.
Lisa Strnad is a freelance writer/blogger who regularly contributes to What’s in the Bible? and Jelly Telly. She is a homeschooling mom of two, who works independently in Christian media in the areas of writing, promotions and marketing. She lives with her husband and children in Nashville,TN. Follow her personal blog posts on www.talkinglikeagirl.blogspot.com.
