As we teach our children to know and love God and follow in His ways, encouraging them to honor God with their money is an important task that cannot be neglected. One of the roles my husband plays in parenting our kids is teaching them about money management, since he is both knowledgeable and interested in the topic. We have also learned from other parents and resources and implemented some basic strategies to help get our kids off to the right start.
I have had the privilege of knowing the McMullen family for many years and hearing first hand their stories of bringing children into their home through foster care and adoption. I know the road has not always been easy for them, but seeing their beautiful children become part of their family and watching how God uses them to impact other families by their ministry is inspirational.
As each new year approaches, I begin to think about what I want to do differently and ask God how I can be more effective and intentional in different areas of my life. One of the areas I have been praying about is how to be more intentional with my kids. As a mom, one of the most important assignments I have is to raise my children to know, love, and follow the Lord.
One of my favorite things about Christmas is the spirit of love and generosity that embraces our hearts this time of year…We tend to look for ways to bless others by serving together as a family, and by doing so we are blessings Jesus in the process. Serving others with our kids not only demonstrates the heart of God and shares His love with His people in the process, but it is a great way to develop meaningful family traditions and foster a strong family identity.
This year I decided to make a Christmas countdown to share with all of you. As I prayed about what I wanted it to look like, I contemplated what we as moms really desire to prioritize during the Christmas season. You can fill out the form below to receive the 21 Days of Surprises: A Countdown to Christmas game free by email!
Every year as Christmas creeps closer and closer, I am filled with anticipation for the joy of the season, but also anxiety sets in as I wonder if I will be able to get everything done in time. From preparing kids for Christmas plays, to hosting and attending parties, to determining the perfect gifts for each family member… it’s a crazy time of year!
What do your kids love about Christmas? Mine love decorating the Christmas tree (my husband’s least favorite part), making, icing, and eating Christmas cookies, and spending time with their cousins… Christmas is fun and full of exciting activities, but with so much to look forward to, if we are not careful, it can become easy to loose sight of the main reason for Christmas.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s fun to think of something special to give our kids to celebrate the occasion. I enjoy giving my kids Thanksgiving books and books about thankfulness. Reading books together on thankfulness is a great way to encourage our kids to be thankful and get them excited about celebrating Thanksgiving!
I hope you enjoy this devotional designed for ages 4-8 to teach your children how to have a thankful heart. Read the italic section or paraphrase with your children to fit their age level. -Taylor
The month of Thanksgiving is the perfect time to cultivate a heart of thankfulness in our children. With the remembrance of the pilgrims and how God helped them through their trials, we can appreciate how much God has blessed us and thank Him for all He has done in our lives too!
