love on purpose
Luke 11:11What father among you, if his son asks for[d] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Raising kids is not a hobby, as much as some in our American culture would like to view it that way. It's 24/7 investment. Like starting a business, it takes a lot of work if you're gonna get it off the ground and headed in a profitable direction. It's best when there's a partnership--two parents teaming together for the same goal. But even when that's not a possibility, remember you're in this with God.
He encourages us to not be weary in doing well, but to take opportunities to show love to others, especially those of the household of faith (Galatians 6). If the household of faith, how much more so, our own individual believing household?
Titus goes so far as to tell us that one way to make God's Word appetizing to others--to prevent His Word from being reviled or blasphemed, a bad taste in someone's mouth--is for believers to live certain ways. Whereas Luke address fathers, Titus addresses young mothers, telling us to love our husbands and their children.
Recently, I've seen what intentional love does for a kid and so encouraged that I'm not going to give this one up. It takes forethought and creativity, but it is so worth it. Specifically for your children, how can you show them love?
In the mean time, enjoy your kids. Show them you love them ... on purpose!
=)
michelle
Raising kids is not a hobby, as much as some in our American culture would like to view it that way. It's 24/7 investment. Like starting a business, it takes a lot of work if you're gonna get it off the ground and headed in a profitable direction. It's best when there's a partnership--two parents teaming together for the same goal. But even when that's not a possibility, remember you're in this with God.
He encourages us to not be weary in doing well, but to take opportunities to show love to others, especially those of the household of faith (Galatians 6). If the household of faith, how much more so, our own individual believing household?
Titus goes so far as to tell us that one way to make God's Word appetizing to others--to prevent His Word from being reviled or blasphemed, a bad taste in someone's mouth--is for believers to live certain ways. Whereas Luke address fathers, Titus addresses young mothers, telling us to love our husbands and their children.
Recently, I've seen what intentional love does for a kid and so encouraged that I'm not going to give this one up. It takes forethought and creativity, but it is so worth it. Specifically for your children, how can you show them love?
- Put a snack on their seat in the car for when they first get in from school.
- Swing through Chik-fil-A for a kid's Icedream cone.
Plan an excursion after-school: to the park or a pet store or a friend's garden or the farmer's market where they get pick out a favorite fruit- Stop by the library for kids' events, Snakes Alive shown to the right: not so recent, but I love this pix! Upcoming events here in Greenville.
- Go home and make Jell-O together, the quick set kind so you can have it for supper that night!
- Read them a book--one on one!
- Tell them, "I love you!" just because and give them a hug....
In the mean time, enjoy your kids. Show them you love them ... on purpose!
=)
michelle
