This excerpt from Stories from the Storyteller by Jonathan Evans puts a modern spin on the parable of the prodigal son so that children can better understand that God's unconditional love for us doesn't follow what we typically think of as fair. And aren't we thankful that God doesn't give us what we deserve? Share this this fun story with your children today. *** The entire Evans family, all seven of them, along with Tyson, their trusty dog, were stuffed into their van. Today was a ... [keep reading]
Teach your child to love and understand children with disabilities
As a mother to a child with disabilities, I've experienced firsthand the questions other children have when it comes to disabilities. But I've found that often, children simply need a bit of help to see that a child with disabilities is actually a lot like them—maybe they love candy, birthday parties, or animals, and they want to have fun, have friends, or feel included. And when children recognize this, when they see that they have sameness with someone else, there's a foundation for a ... [keep reading]
How Can We Believe in Something That We Can’t See?
“But, Mommy, I can’t see Him!” I can’t tell you how many times my four-year-old daughter protested this point when we’d have conversations about God. She continued this protest as a five and six-year-old as well. Fair enough. The fact that we can’t physically see or touch God has often felt problematic for adults, too. Leave it to kids to honestly voice their valid questions and concerns as we try to introduce them to the Bible’s story and God himself. My daughter, who I imagine may one day ... [keep reading]
How to teach your child about diversity, compassion, and the fine art of friendship
It was a hot July afternoon, and we had just picked up a few of my children’s friends to take to the pool. My youngest daughter with intellectual disabilities was jabbering excitedly in the car, talking about water and goggles and pretzel bites (her favorite snack to get at the concession stand), but because of a speech delay, I was likely the only one who could understand what she was specifically talking about. As we pulled into the parking lot and piled out of the mini-van, my daughter ... [keep reading]
Experience the Blessing of Thanksgiving and Receiving
We need to compose our lives in such a way that we both give and receive, learning to do both with grace, seeing both as parts of a single pattern rather than as antithetical alternatives.Mary Catherine Bateson Pause for a moment, put down the grocery and to-do list, and raise your hand if you’re not quite ready to transition into the “spirit of the season.” It seems we are nudged by retailers, school schedules, and well-meaning fundraisers to be in the holiday mindset long before we feel ... [keep reading]
Follow this simple routine to help give you and your kids more peace in the morning time
Parenting our sassy and strong-willed kiddos is the most important and hardest thing we can do on this planet. As the happy little ones transition to school-aged kids, a morning routine becomes even more important. When we turn the focus away from the activity accolades, external appearances, and what the Jones’s kids are doing, it is life-giving for the next generation. This simple morning routine, which begins the night before, will bring peace to you and your kids. Set consistent timesHave ... [keep reading]
Are you teaching your child to pray the right way? Here’s three truths you need to know.
Charles Spurgeon, who was nicknamed “The prince of preachers,” once famously said, “I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.” Why would a man known for preaching believe that praying was even more important? Spurgeon knew what many of us tend to forget: prayer is a powerful tool we’ve been given by God! A Christian without an active prayer life is like a car without a battery. We might look nice on the outside, but there is a vital source of power missing deep down on the ... [keep reading]
How the classic carols of Christmas can help you rediscover the true meaning of the season
Christmas trees, cocoa, candy canes, and chaos! These are some of the prominent features for many family festivities as the Christmas season draws near. But such busyness leaves little room in most homes for compassion and care toward those in need, caroling, or contemplation of the meaning of Christmas. I suppose that’s how it goes with most holidays—the means of celebrating take the place of the meaning. Sweets and egg hunts eclipse the resurrection in April, fireworks and food mean more than ... [keep reading]
A mom’s quest for real rest: What is keeping you from experiencing true peace and contentment?
You know that feeling at the end of the day when you finally take out the ponytail you’ve been wearing for hours? There’s a dull ache and it doesn’t feel all that great, but you know it won’t linger for long. You rub your head where the rubber band once was, massaging away the tenderness, and snuggle into your pillow. Ahhh…it’s time to rest! The thing about rest of all kinds, from the quick midafternoon nap to the soul-deep variety that we’re after here, is that it requires an undoing, a ... [keep reading]
Mom, here’s why you need the help and hope that the gospel offers
We became first-time moms within nine months of each other, and although we didn’t realize it at the time, we both entered motherhood with high expectations. Yet today, with eight kids between us, our optimistic expectations have toppled under the pressures of everyday life. Just like when we realized our carefully selected muslin swaddles were insufficient at holding our Houdini babies’ arms in place, motherhood left us feeling inadequate, frustrated, and desperate for new solutions. And ... [keep reading]
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