In my devotion today on Crosswalk and Proverbs 31 Ministries, I talked about a situation where I felt frustrated and completely helpless as a mom. So I asked for God’s help and He came through with a powerful promise to help my son become a can-do kid, and help me become a can-do mom!
Andrew moved beyond who he was to who he could become with God’s help. He learned (and is still learning) that he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength, (Phil. 4:13). It’s a spiritual lesson that’s become part of his spiritual legacy. A lesson that’s lasted for years. He was four when it happened and he just turned eleven yesterday!
Monday we talked here about our calling to teach God’s truths to our kids in everyday moments. All throughout January, I’ll be sharing on my blog about becoming a D6 family based on God’s instructions in Deuteronomy 6:5-9. I’ll also be partnering with the D6 conference/ministry each weekday to give away resources to encourage you and your kids along the way.
My story in today’s devotion a D6 moment when I saw what it meant to live out the principles in Deuteronomy 6 – to pass on God’s promises as we go along. God showed me real life application of His Word in the middle of a motherhood meltdown.
And the lesson lingered. It’s been applicable in the days that followed. A year or so afterwards, we were getting ready to leave for school and Joshua offered to help Andrew feed the dogs. Andrew smiled and said, “No thanks. I don’t need help. I’m a can-do kid!”
Just yesterday Andrew was struggling with anxiety. I shared how I have worries, too, and described how I write them down and give them to God. We talked about living in today and not tomorrow until it gets here. Then I read him the devotion and reminded him that he’s a can-do kid who can trust God with His concerns. Then we prayed Philippians 4:13, claiming once again that he can do all things through Christ who gives Him strength. He smiled so big and thanked me for reminding him.
My prayer today is that God will show us all D6 moments with our children so we can help them become can-do kids in Christ!
I also wanted to share promises God used with Gideon in Judges 6 to help him become a can-do kid:
- I am with you. v.12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
- Focus on the strength you have. v.14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
- You can do it! Remember, I am with you. v.16 The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
I didn’t realize it then, but as I look back I see practical ways I applied this process and these promises with Andrew that day in the kitchen:
- I drew his attention away from something he couldn’t do and focused it toward something he could do.
- I showed him how to do it, and then I did it with him.
- Once he gained his confidence, I stepped back and watched as he completed his assignment with success.
- We celebrated the reality of his new name and talked about how good it felt to do new things.
God is so good! I love that these steps we can take with our children in various situations as we become a Can-Do Moms who are raising Can-Do Kids!
Copyright 2009. Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
We’re giving away two D6-mom resources today, that includeone copy of “Revolutionary Parenting” and one copy of my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child“ CD and chart to be selected from your comments today. Be sure to include your email in your comment so we can contact you if you win the give-away. Here are some things I’d love to know:
Has there been a time when you were able to share a promise or spiritual truth with your child in an everyday life moment? What hinders you or helps you look for those teachable moments? Are there other ways you are passing on your faith to your child? I’d love to hear your thoughts, stories and/or questions.
Every Friday, we’ll be giving away two tickets to the D6 Conference. So be sure to come back for more encouragement and resources from D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
Be sure to include your email so we can contact you if you win the give-away.
My 12 year old son just started a new middle school this week and it threatened to get the best of both of us. He did not want to leave the friends he had at his old school and I hated to see him so anxious about going to a new place. My husband and I encouraged him with the scripture “For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” That actually encouraged me as well because as a parent I sometimes allow the uncertainty of life to weigh heavier on me than it should, and then I remember the One who is on my side and things quickly come back into focus. Thank you for your daily devotions, they really do encourage me and help me in my daily Christian walk.
Monica W.
[email protected]
Oops! Forgot to leave my email: [email protected]
Thank you Renee for that very timely message. I’m a school teacher with a student who absolutely CAN DO long division, but is so afraid to try(and possibly be wrong)that she is paralyzed and actually won’t even attempt the problem. I’m going to use your thoughts today to help encourage her (and ease my own frustrations). Thank you also for the scripture references; I’m going to post them in my classroom, and one on her desk!
Sharon
sharoncivile6@ gmail.com
wow ~ what an encouragement to me!
I am actually thinking how this applies to my husband and co-workers as well as to my daughters! Thanks for sharing.
[email protected]
Bless your heart Renee for this powerful post.
I have a 3yr old daughter whom I noticed that in the last few weeks she has been particular about announcing it when its dark. On Tuesday, I was getting set to go to work and she said, “mummy, don’t go because it is still dark outside”. The lord lead me to share with her Ps 84:11 that said the lord God is our light and our protector, I took her outside to show her that despite the dark we can still see. Ever since, she still announces it whenever it’s dark but confirms that we can still see.
Also she also believes that she can do all thing because God had helped me to share this truth with her before now.
Once again thank you for the tips in Judges 6 that you’ve highlighted
Hi Renee,
I so need help in finding the right things to say to my 17 year old son. He has been so shy and reserved until the last two years. Some of his friends are not who I would choose for him. I think they are bad influences.
He does go to church without being told to, which is a plus. But I see a lot of anger in him. He has an absent father that came in his life for the first time 2 years ago. He spent a week with him, bought him a keychain and promised him he would bring him the car that goes with it at Christmas. That was over a year ago, and he hasn’t heard from him since.
It devastated him to say the least. I blame myself because I found his father and brought him in his life only for him to treat him like he did.
I just wish I knew what to say to him. He is like me in the sense that he carries his heart on his shoulders. When he gets upset he goes outside or in another room and he cries.
I also have a 3 year old daughter who is totally opposite. She is fearless and could be a door greeter at Walmart, LOL.
I know it hurts him to see his little sister with me and her father. I know he feels cheated deep inside. The only father figure he has ever had was my father and he is 60 and his health is failing. It would totally destroy him if something happen to his grandfather. He would feel so lost. I know at his age it’s too late for him to look to my daughters father as a father figure.
It’s just a mess and I could really use some guidance.
God Bless,
Cheryl
http://[email protected]
Shalom Renee!
Thank you! Thank you for being obedient to God!
I’m the mother of one child, Bethany, who is 9. This is our first year of homeschooling and we have our good days and our bad. The other day was one of those days where I had a hundred different things on my mind, or so it seemed, Bethany was working on her math sheet. Math…just thinking about it makes me want to cringe. I loved Math in school, teaching it to my daughter this year, not so much.
Last year, while in 2nd grade, at a private Christian school, Bethany could finish a 100 math fact sheet, multiplication, in under 4 minutes. This year…”What’s 2×3?” “Uh… 4..?” Oh, Father help me! That is what I have to say over and over again sometimes. I lose patience with her too quickly sometime, to my great shame. Which, I know is a very big part of the problem.
But the other day, she was working on another 100 fact sheet and I happened to hear her sigh for about the 5th time in frustration. When I looked up, “What’s wrong,” coming from my mother, my heart dropped and sorrow and frustration lodged in my throat.
I could see the spirit of failure, of self-condemnation all over her. God literally ‘showed’ me how it crawls on her, if you will. I wanted to vent my frustration and at the same time wrap her in my arms. I did neither, really. But I did look her in the eyes and tell her that, in Jesus name, we needed to pray that God would reveal to her how smart and beautiful she is. Her big brown eyes welled and spilled over with tears as she shook her head.
God help me. I knew parenting would be hard, but raising a child and especially raising a child to understand WHO they are and WHOSE they are…whew! That’s hard. I struggle daily, espcially since I am human, I am flesh and I have my own insecurities and short-comings that I feel are being handed down to her.
Since she was in the womb, I prayed over her, with her and it’s something that I’ve done with her, pretty much every day, all her life. I’ve prayed for her and with her that she’d be a Mighty Daughter of Zion, full of faith, love and power…
But I am failing her somewhere. I have given her Psalm 139:13-16 to claim, 2 Timothy 1:7…
I guess though, if I’m not totally, unashamedly, and fervantly SHOWING her, how will she know.
And now that I’ve babbled, I will say that I am glad I clicked on the link for this blog. I’m glad that God knows what we need when we need it… and I know this is something that I need, as do many other mothers.
I AM taking to the bank that I’m a ‘Can Do’ mom. I’m going to start claiming that. And I’m going to have her start claiming that she’s a ‘Can Do’ kid.
Thank you, Renee. I look forward to many more encouragements and enlightenments! Praise God, He is so good!
Shalom,
Danielle
[email protected]
Renee,
Thanks for the encouraging and challenging blog. Here’s our D6 story:
At the end of October, our six year old son was complaining because we were not going out to eat at a restaurant after church. I launched into my best mom lecture: “There are hungry children all over the world…”
Well, that seemed to quiet him and I didn’t hear anything about it for the next several minutes. However, when I glanced in my rearview mirror, I saw tears spilling down his cheeks. “Mommy, I didn’t know there are kids who don’t have any food.”
Distracted with driving, music in the background, two other children in the van, and my plans for the rest of the day, I thought perhaps I’d gone overboard with the lecture, so I told him we’d give to a ministry that helps feed hungry children.
I nearly missed an incredible opportunity, but thank God, he wasn’t satisfied with my half-hearted offer! He said, “Mom, I want to do something to help them, but I’m just a kid.” Finally, the light switched on in my heart–this was a God moment! So we talked about young David defeating the giant Goliath, how he trusted in God to fight with him. I reminded him of Samuel hearing the voice of the Lord as a young boy, and of Josiah who became king of Judah when he was only eight years old and restored true worship in the temple.
Well, my son listened carefully, then replied. “God’s telling me to help those kids. He loves me and is going to help me.”
When we got home, he gave me most of the money that he had been saving for a video game. He told me that God wanted him to raise $1,000! Amazed by his faith, I was now the one learning a lesson!
In the end, he exceeded his goal in about two months (without money from mom or dad), and wants to go on a missions trip with my husband as soon as he can.
Renee, my kids teach so much about God. There seems to be a new lesson every day, and it’s a good thing because I’ve got a lot to learn!
Thanks for your openness in sharing your journey, and for inspiring me to be the parent that God has called me to be and that my kids need me to become.
Blessings,
Susanna
[email protected]
Renee,
I have two boys ages 4 and 5 who I pray for daily. I think at these ages the most important concept I can instill in them is how much God loves them. We pray daily and I tell them that God hears our prayers. I realized how my boys were beginnng to understand this when one day my oldest son skinned his knee and began crying hysterically while saying, “Momma, Momma I want you to pray for me. I want you to pray for me.” We did and he calmed down. Ever since then, it is one of the first things we do if anyone gets hurt or experiences pain. What’s even more wondrous is how God hears and answers those prayers. It makes me wonder whose faith is stronger, mine or theirs? Thanks for asking. [email protected]
I find it amazing that God would draw so many moms together with the same burden for planting those seeds of faith in our children. I had an opportunity to draw on the strength of God’s word when my dear cousin died suddenly a few years ago.
As a stood there stunned and sobbing in our kitchen, my eyes caught the perpetual calendar with bible verses printed for each day. On this particularly difficult day, the verse was Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” As I read that, I sobbed with a peace like no other. I knew God was with my family in that moment.
When my then 3 year old daughter tried to comfort me, I was able to tell her my tears were joyful and that God reminded me He was close by and that everything would be ok. Though she asked alot of questions, she reminded me for a long time after that God was always nearby ready to help us like daddy. This particular daughter is one who shys away from new things. I’ve read quite a few ideas I can try with her in those moments she needs more encouragement!
So many times I feel I fall short in passing on my faith to my daughters. And then God lays something on my heart to remind me to stay the course and keep trying. Thank you for initiating this conversation!
Good evening! I really liked your message. I am the mother of 3 kids, 2 now married and one hopefully finishing college this year. The daughter in college has had a troubled time these past three years. I struggle with how to stay positive while staying on her about getting things done well. She tends to procrastinate, fall behind, get sick, miss class, not get things done… I know God has a wonderful plan for her, but I’m looking for ways to encourage her in the midst of her not striving to make the most of each day. Any ideas?
Thank you for reminding me of that powerful verse that yes, we CAN DO all things through our mighty awesome God!! How encouraging that is to a Mama like me as I homeschool 4 children. Countless other Mamas will be so blessed and be able to encourage their children, also!!
Blessings to you,
~Amy S.~
Renee-we did someting different this Christmas. To make a long story short, there were no gifts under the tree. We didn’t think the money would be there with my husbands loss of job. One week before Christmas, a “love offering” came our way. When we went shopping to buy the girls gifts they all seemed empty. We left the mall with only gift cards for their stockings instead. It wasn’t the real meaning of Christmas. We gave each girl a journal and told them the best gift we could give them at Chrstmas was a relationship with christ however, no matter how much we wanted them to have that gift they had to choose it, to accept it. We gave them the journals and taught them a method to journal scripture and pray it back. We are hoping to instill a discipline we are passionate about in our own lives.
In His Graces~Pamela
It was wonderful to read this today…I am a single mom, struggling with my 11 year old son who is fearful of everything new, and I am honestly at my wits end trying to encourage him. I was meant to read this encouragement – unfortunatly I cannot add any wisdom myself. But I can be thankful that there are others who understand my plight, and can help me on the path to helping my child!
Karen Molenda
[email protected]
Hello Renee,
Thank you so much for your article, it really encourage me!
I love the way God works. For some reason He thinks I am the right person to raise his dearest one.
My daughter is only 18 months, so even I know the journey is going to be long I will try to do my best to let her know (by mouth and by example) that she can be a can-do-kid, and there is no “handicap” that can stop that!
God bless you, your family and ministry!
Connie
[email protected]
I had had enough today after a day of deadlines ,no breaks and stress. I came home to 2 kids complaining and not happy with the dinner or anything else.
After almost one hour of doing homework with my 8 yr. old daughter I ended up frustrated as she couldn’t grasp the match or english report writing concepts.
I plopped down exhausted on the dining room table while they went down to watch t.v.alone. I just wanted to cry.
I ended up trying to answer some emails and was unusually curt with my answers. Then I read your story about your 4 yr. old.
You reminded me that my daughter is a Can-do kid and so is my 4 yr. old. And maybe just as importantly, I’m a Can-do mother through Jesus.
I’m no longer near to tears and am ready to join both of them , give them hugs and enjoy the little time left before some well-needed rest.
Thanks for your insight and thank-you Jesus for this intervention tonight.
Love,
A tired mom in Ottawa, Canada.
Renee,
Thankyou for sharing your heart concerning your boys and the things that occur.
It makes it easier to share what we go through as moms.. fellowship with other moms.
After yesterday I was trying to find those teachable moments.. one actually came today.
My 4 yr old daughter decided that she would rather hit/push her brother instead of obeying. So I asked her if what she did made Jesus sad when she didnt obey. Well she wanted to be sassy and said,, not gonna obey. Then a few minutes later I said that when she disobeyed mommy it made Jesus sad.
She seemed to get it the 2nd time around.
I think for me.. there are certain times that hinder me from teaching when I get really fustrated with them or in a stressful moment. At that point all I am thinking about is how stressed they are making me feel.
As I look .. I can see that the enemy is trying to distract from the important in those times.
Our kids love listening to praise music. So at the harried times.. I am trying to switch gears to PRAISING instead of stressing.
** There are times during the day when we hear the older 2 in the other room singing a praise song.. which is so neat.. God is stirring their hearts little by little.
Also my husband does his reading time in the morning. Sometimes our daughter will go up to my husband and want him to read to her. Its neat Father/daughter time in the word.
I look forward to reading tommorows blog:)
Chrissy Gunning
email: [email protected]
Ok this came to me after two very long weeks of Christmas break. My kids had lost the exhileration of the new toys and “stuff” and were quickly approaching an insane amount of tv time. I was finding my volume rising to new levels as well. One night my 7 year old gave my 2 1/2 year old and old devotion book for girls. my 2 1/2 year old ran around with it all night calling it her notebook. I had no idea what her notebook was as I was trying to complete my third load of laundry. Meanwhile my 6 year old son was what I call “fitting” in his room over having to put away his laundry. The girls began to bicker at out toothbrushing session and I was ready to blow!!! I turn to yes yell at my girls to knock it off when I saw the devotion book on the bathroom counter. I made all three come and sit down on the bathroom floor that moment and immediatly turned to complaining and whining devotion. My youngest was still on the potty which made her a captive audience:) I read the story of how a little girl didn’t want to go to bed and then read the memory verse(Phillipians 2:14)to them. I then had them individually recite the verse to me! We talked about why God doesn’t want us to complain and argue. We all gave an example including myself of when we have complained or argued. I had them recite the verse several more times since that day and it quells the bickering and complaining almost every time. Judy Johnson [email protected]
oops… I, mom2po, forgot to include my email address on my post. Here it is just incase….
[email protected]
Renee,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. It’s my desire to raise a “can-do” child too!
[email protected]
It seems whenever my day is not going the way I’d like it to be I click on today’s message and behold it relates to how my day is going.It never fails the message points me to what I should do. Thanks for everything that you share!!!
[email protected]
Good afternoon…I think many things in children’s lives can be teachable moments…Like when my children are out of the house, and have their own home, I will go to their house and leave my wrappers and glasses sitting in the living room, or stuff garbage down their couch…teachable moments for sure! In all seriousness, I have found that sharing with my daughter especially, things that I went through or learned while in my teen years sparks a little interest. I have a hard time letting them know that I screwed up, so I don’t think they see me as someone who has messed up. I don’t want them to say…Well you did that when you were younger…Something I am scared to admit. not sure why! Pride maybe??
enjoying these conversations!
Shannon
[email protected]
Ok! I just posted a comment and HAVE to leave another one. I was talking about my daughter and I went onto my Facebook and was able to encourage a teenager I know who is singing tomorrow night at her school. She is nervous and I was able to tell her that I had total confidence in her and that she could do it! I quoted Philippians 4:13 and told her to remember that tomorrow evening. She said she would. And I probably wouldn’t have quoted that if I hadn’t JUST read this devotion. GOD is SO timely!! I read this at just the right time to be able to use it to encourage this teen. We serve an AWESOME GOD!!!!! Julie Spearing [email protected]
Hi Renee:
How timely your message is for me and my daughter. I have been struggling with ways I can reach her with God’s word. I have to admit, I have been doing a very poor job of helping her to become close to God and accept Jesus as her Lord and savior. I am going to read your blog every day and look for all the hints, suggestions and ideas you have about this subject. I pray I can bring my daughter, who is 11, to the point she should be as a Christian. I have been so neglectful in this area and I am so happy the God has answered my prayer. This will be the start of helping my daughter understand the love and peace of knowing Jesus and teaching her how to be a “can-do kid.”
Thanks and I look forward to reading and learning more.
My daughter sometimes gets scared at night. I came across a verse in the Psalms that says: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, oh LORD make me dwell in safety.” I had used that verse to remind myself that HE is with me at night when worries overcome me in the middle of the night. Every time I did, I was able to go peacefully back to sleep.
So, when my daughter told me she was scared, I quoted that verse to her and told her that I say that verse when I’m scared. She says “ok”, and then lays her head back down to sleep. I know it is The Holy Spirit calming her spirit. I know it is The Holy Spirit that calms me down too and realize that GOD has everything under HIS control. My daughter, Savannah CAN DO IT!!! Thanks SO much for your devotions and ministry! GOD Bless!! Julie Spearing [email protected]
Hi Renee
Busy busy busy…that is what hinders me from teaching my kids to be “can do” kids. My older is always asking me if she can help and I always say ‘later’ as I know it will be faster to do it myself.
Has been good to read these posts and D6. I need to realize God is giving me teachable moments and I need to take advantage of them. I pray I can slow down and take the time to do so.
I keep having this awful thought in my head that my kids are going to be “troubled teens” if I don’t spend more quality time with them. I think this at the same moment I am ignoring them….I definitely need Gods help in this area!
Blessings
Kim
[email protected]
You asked the question “What hinders you or helps you look for those teachable moments?” For me it is simply being too busy and setting unreal expectations for myself. We miss moments because we do not allow ourselves the time to teach. I would say the majority of moms wake up with some type of agenda or to do list. Many of us are married to this list. Guess who gets put on the back burner as we do this or that – the teachable moments. Our To Do Lists grower longer as we place more expectations upon ourselves to be this or to do that. In doing so I feel this hinders the time to just play with our kids and enjoy them. Many times they become a part of our to do list and we lose the very gift of parenting. We need to leave the house a mess for awhile and spend quality time with our kids and send our high expectations of being Martha Stewart or whoever else we are trying to be packing.
nazyouth4god (at) hotmail (dot) com
A subject close to my heart, friend. I’ve written a whole series of posts on my blog along these lines “Raising Faith”. In particular, I recall a day when I got a call from my then senior son’s teacher. He was caught cheating on an exam, giving an answer to another student. I met him at the school, took him to lunch, and we talked about what it means to embrace holiness in our lives; how the poor choices of my past deeply affected my life and his. I shared some “truth” with him he wouldn’t have been able to handle years earlier. Painful for us both.
When Monday morning rolled around, my son asked the teacher if he could say a few words to the class (he attended a Christian school and was the class chaplain). He offered his apologies to them, asked for their forgiveness and told them he wanted to live pure before his God. I had no idea this occurred until talking to his teacher weeks later and he happened to mention it to me.
Indeed, my son stood tall in God’s eyes in that moment because he was willing to bend to repentance and to the authority of his God. He’s in college now. I couldn’t be more proud of the leadership roll he’s taken in the dorm and in other aspects on campus.
I thank God for that teachable moment…one of hundreds that have been chronicled in my heart and through my pen.
Becoming a “can-do” mom is most effectively facilitated by a heart that is willing to be taught by the doings of our kids. I firmly believe they end up being our teachers in the end if we are willing to bend.
peace~elaine
[email protected]
Hello,
Thank you for your story today. My prayer for this year is that I teach my 5 yr. daughter how to become closer to God and to understand all that is does for us. I struggle with this, I don’t the bible as I should but I’m committed to making a difference this year.
Thank you for introducing me to Deuteronomy 6:5-7, I can’t wait to share it with my husband tonight on the way to church. I’m going to type it up and hang it on our fridge as a daily reminder.
I have twin girls that are almost three. I have really been trying to show my faith to them. During our morning drive to daycare, I will comment on the sunrise and thank Jesus for sunshine. Recently, one of the twins commented that the sunshine was coming and the other followed with a “thank you Jesus for sunshine” which really touched my heart. On our drive we also pray for each of our family members to have a good day. I am trying and I think they are getting some of it.
Joni Moore
[email protected]
Renee,
Thank you for sharing your moment of parenting triumph! It sounds like a lot of us today needed to hear it. I am the mother of 15yr and 5yr old daughters. One would think with the large age gap I wouldn’t have to face the typical rivalries and comparisons that most moms deal with…one would THINK that, but oh not so! I’m afraid sometimes it just exacerbates things 🙂 This 5th yr with my youngest has been the most challenging for me– and yes we get a heavy dose of the “I can’ts”. Through lots of prayer, patience and perseverance we are overcoming most of the problems. We read from the Bible together for 15 minutes each evening before bedtime and then usually fit in a “Key’s for Kids” devo (which I highly recommend!) after that. I love how often the verses or devo we read “just happen” to apply to the days situations — I mean way more than just a coincidence! And the spiritual growth and awareness I am seeing develop in my youngest is usually enough to keep me from getting discouraged. It also helps a lot that her older sister is a beautiful example of what 10yrs of maturing will bring about. And I also am reminded daily how quickly this “season” of her life will pass…I will blink and she’ll be in High School – Lord help me! Thank you again for your encouraging posts!
I have witnessed fear hold myself back, and then my children. God does not give us a spirit of fear. Thanks
Renee,
Thanks for your encouragement. I too have had to deal with the “can’t do’s” from my 6 year old. He is very reluctant to try new things on his own. Before he stared Kindergarten this past fall we memorized a Bible that would help him be brave…”the Lord is on my side, I shall not fear”. Leading up to the big day when I dropped him off in his new classroom and left him we went back to that verse with each nervous question or each anxious comment. Those were the last words I tearfully whispered to him as he walked into his classroom that first day. He walked in bravely, said “Bye Mom” and didn’t look back. Now, of course, there are many more milestones ahead of us but that little verse helped my little guy walk through a BIG one!
Thanks for letting me share my story! Now I’m off to pick him up from Kindergarten!
Blessings,
Alesha Moreno
[email protected]
Just read your devotion on being a CAN-DO KID. I loved it. My boys are grown and out of the house, but I can still apply the principles when I talk with them. I can speak to them and treat them like Gideon – a mighty man of God – even though they are not YET! I don’t want to look at them with disappointment; I want to look at them seeing their potential.
I can also apply the truths to myself. I am a CAN-DO KID because I’m God’s child.
Thanks for sharing. You made me really think today!
Love you,
E.B.
Thank you for your article. It is very timely. I am a homeschooling mother of 3 and God has been working on my mouth and the things I say to people, especially my children. He has been working on this in me for a while, but in earnest since Monday!! It is awesome how God works all things together to walk us step-by-step to be more like Christ! 😉 It is especially wonderful when He puts something on your heart, you are obedient and then He confirms it through an article, devotion or in some other way right after you are obedient! Just this morning I encouraged my 3 year old daughter to clean the breakfast table. She is the youngest and I think she tends to feel like she can’t do much since her older brother and sister go off and play baseball together, etc. So, to read your article after that was like a kiss from God and like He picked up my hand to walk me the next step!
I hope your day is blessed.
In Christ’s Love,
Carolyn McNabb
I love both of these posts because instilling faith through daily teachable moments and regular routines is just what we’re trying to do! This may be basic to everyone else, but it was definitely an ‘aha’ moment when I got this. I have my regular devotion time in the morning, so now we have a short devotional time with our three-year-old each evening at bedtime. My husband and I are trying to learn more scripture, so we’re going to start our own little family program to encourage each other to learn more verses at dinnertime each evening. We look for ways that we can help other people and talk about how that makes God happy. Our daughter loves reading her Bible book, as she calls it, and loves church, too. We recently started a Bible study for Mommies where we’re talking about just these sorts of things – about how to instill faith into our children – and I’ve learned a lot from there.
My 83 year old mother has adopted and modified the Home Depot slogan. The advertisements for the Home Depot say, “You can do it. We can help.” My Mom tells herself, “You can do it. HE can help.” As she faces the challenges that growing older brings, she places her trust in the Lord and knows her strength comes from Him.
In the summer, my teenage son and I try to walk early every morning. On our walks we try and look for ways to see God and use these as teachable moments. I remember one day we were approaching a stoplight and I used it to remind him that sometimes God gives direction by saying Go, Stop or slow down and wait a while. Other days it would be as simple as seeing a flower and talking about our prayers rising as a sweet smelling fragrance to the Lord. A tree would lead to a discussion of having our roots grow deep in His Word. Little cracks in the sidewalk would introduce a discussion on our lives being ‘cracked’ and God forgiving sin and using our cracks to let His light shine forth.
I found it got more of a challenge to find teachable moments as my son got older, but they are still there if we’re looking and asking the Lord to help us see them.
Just yesterday as our young, new neighbour was scrapping ice off her car to leave for work, my son and I discussed how we could try and get ready ten minutes earlier so we could do that for her. As we talked about this, I shared with my son that, even thinking that idea was God. He put that desire on our hearts. That was God speaking.
Keeping my heart open to more teachable moments,
Joy
Dear Renee!
Thank you for your post! I can’t even tell you how much it spoke to my heart. Just that fact that there is someone else out there who has a son who has anxiety just helped me know that I’m not alone.
My son is 11. He’s tender. Which I think will be an asset to him in life. However, it also makes him more succeptible to pain and anxiety. He had a rough start at school this year. Anxiety attacks and lots of tears. It was a very difficult time but I saw his faith grow and for me, who had previously wondered if he’d ever choose to follow Christ, this was a wonderful thing to happen as a result of the trial he was going through.
After a vacation from school, the anxiety has started again and we (my husband and I ) continue to remind him how GREAT God was in the same situation 3 months ago. He tends to want to sit and mope and share all the bad things going on in his little life right now. We’ve encouraged him to think about the positive things
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
It has been a very difficult season for our family. Both my mom and my husband’s dad spent Christmas in the hospital. I am an emotional wreck and clinging to the Lord. I can’t pray without weeping and although I’d like to shield my kids from this hard part of life, they learn in the process that while we go through difficult times, we cling to GOD and GOD ALONE. And His grace will be sufficient for our every breath.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing your heart. I felt as if it was from God to me!
Happy New Year!
Carol
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Thank you Renee for your wisdom in your journey of parenting.
I find myself,batteling the strength to continue to repeat the promise that has been told to me to tell my children. I feel as though I say the same thing over and over, and over; but then I am reminded that no one is going to love my children as I do, therefore I need to be consistent in what I say.
God’s word is not there for me to read one time, it is a lifetime process…so I shouldn’t expect my children to get it one time and then..poof! They are all fixed.
One setback in our home is grumbling and complaining. I get so sick and tired of it it makes me want to scream! We have discussed the Isrealites and thier complaining and how they did not move forward. We have hung Philippians 2:14 (Do everything without complaining or arguing NIV) on the refigerator until we knew that we knew it. So when we are in the store I can say, Emily are you grumbling and complaining?
But sometimes saying the verse doesn’t ring in thier ears as I had planned. So now when the heat needs to be turned down, we turn up in song. For instance, if we are cleaning up the house and there is ALOT of you know what goign in…I have my kids start to sing “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice…” It has been very effective in turning bad attitudes around. My kids go from thinking selfishly to singing to the Lord.
One of the challenges I face is having time with each child alone. It seems often questions come up when both kids are with me (often in the car), but they aren’t both asking a question. It is sometimes hard to present age appropriate information with children who are not on the same developmental level at the same time! Thanks for the encouragement.
I struggle with this issue but with my daughter, who is sweet and very sensitive and gives up at the first sign of trouble or mental discomfort. She is 7 and I wonder if we’ll ever get past this. I’ve tried to draw her out by practicing with her or letting her know that I fail all the time and it’s OK.
Hi Renee
What a blessing it has been to have your daily emails and to read the comments shared by so may that encourage parents,facing difficult times.I am one of those mothers .
I have a 9 year old daughter who has had sever allergies since the age of 9 months, we have been in an out of hospitals and doctors and they came up with Celiac disease and autoimmune conditions as well as food,drug,dye and any indoor or out door allegens.
I have taken your” D6 can do moments ” and created special times were I could help her through the rough times of “no you can’t eat that or go there or do that”.
As a parent and christian I realize how important it is to share with her how to moments and over ride the “I can’t” because they seem to be so many. At times I feel am I doing it right? and wonder can I do this Lord ? And then I read your email and again I am en powered and faith and hope renter my heart and my spirit is open to try again and that has become so wonderful for me.
Thank you for this gift.The emails, books and comments have made such an impact on my family, our church ministry and my 3 year old preschool class room.
Erica has moments were we redo “I can and I can’t ” as the school parties and field trips and special events come up, but we have found grace and joy in solving them together as a family.
Gods grace is open for all who need it and daily we have chosen to make “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
a scripture that starts off our day difficult or not we have a goal to overcome them.
In Christ Didi Gray
My daugher is 21 months old and loves to sing and dance. She learns new words and letter sounds everyday it seems like. Last week she learned to pray. Now she will grab my hand or her dad’s hand and will close her eyes and wait for one of us to pray. She does this before we eat and usually after every bite for the first 10+ bites, when she gets buckled into her car seat, when she is sitting on the “big” potty (as we try to potty train, when sitting on the couch watching cartoons and when she goes to bed at night. It amases me how often she asks us to pray with her. She has taught me to believe like a child again.
Now she is no perfect angel…she gets mad when she doesn’t get her way. To show us she is mad she throws whatever she can grab at the moment and bangs her head on the floor until it hurts and will go pout in her room sometimes for 30 minutes or more. I tried telling her it is ok to get mad but not to act out like she does when she is mad but I don’t think she understood. Then I had to think back and review how I act when I am angry…I tend to yell and shake and point my finger at her…I had to change my reactions and start responding in Christ like manner instead of reacting first. This has helped. It amases me how much she learns from watching me. I need to watch Christ’s examples that closely as I read His word.
Thank you for reminding me to continually and constantly turn to His word for answers to life’s everyday challenges. It is so easy to slip into a wordly perspective of “how can I fix this” instead of “how does God want me to live my life and teach my children to live in obedience to Him.” Not that life doesn’t present problems and troubles, but that if I can rest in His assurance and truth, I always find that I am less likely to take it all on myself -likewise teaching my children not to live out of their own strenght!
Renee,
Thank you for yur encouragement. I home school my two children. My daughter is a true first born. She is 9 and in 4th grade. My son is 6 and we decided to start him in Kindergarten this year vs last. He has had no desire to learn. But, I’m encouraged because he is showing signs of interest. I look forward to utilizing your D6 challenge. Thank you!Jennie
I feel so blessed to be able to read your blog and learn soooo much. Thank you and everyone for all your insight. You are such an inspiration. As one of the anonymous said, I feel I don’t measure up like I should as a spiritual parent either. I feel like I struggle but pray and pray and I know God is helping me. My 9 year old and myself are learning so much together and Phil. 4:13 is posted on my fridge at home along with a few others. You are a true blessing!!
Thank you.
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Hi Renee! I also have a child who is always reluctant to try anything he might come close to failing. He is 11 years old, and has pretty much always been like this. We see this in sports and school. He is a wonderful athlete, and an average student, but just doesn’t seem to have a passion for anything. My husband and I struggle to try to find things he’s good at and encourage him in those things, because he always seems to be indifferent about everything.
My struggle is not being familiar with the Bible myself enough to know where to look for scriptures that pertain to certain issues. I would love to be able to just pull a verse out of my head to share with him during those “teachable moments”, but I don’t have them. Once I’ve taken the time to look them up (if I can even find them), I feel like I’ve lost the moment.
I was not raised in a family that went to church and we didn’t really talk about God. I have not memorized scripture and am usually not familiar with most of the Bible stories I often hear in Bible Studies, etc. I am trying to find a time during each day to spend with God, but I struggle because it’s not something I’m used to doing. I know if I can do this, it will help. But every time I try (using devotions, etc.), I don’t stick with it. I’ve prayed for God to help me in this area, but still struggle. Do you have any other suggestions for me? Any would be much appreciated. Thanks for the post!
Thank you for sharing. We have one child who is a perfectionist and sometimes won’t even try a new activity because she may fail. After reading your devotion, we will encourage her by praying the verse in Phillipians and showing her how to be a “can-do” kid!
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Thank you so much for your story about your son. I know what you mean. I have a 7 year old son and two step sons 6 and 4. Sometimes it hard for all of them to try new tasks. The 4 year old just started pre-K and has had some issues getting settled in. The other main issue we have is the children talking hateful to each other. We have recently started using scripture for them to understand that Jesus does not like hateful words. We have started using WWJD..everytime one of them talks or acts in a hateful manner, we ask them, “Would Jesus say that, would Jesus like those hateful words?” It has really seems to help. Hopefully God will continue to put words in our mouths as parents and actions in our body to raise our children to be Godly people and pass it on to the next generations!
Hi!
Thanks for your devotional this AM. I realized that my 2 year old son loves to do what he is good at (me too). Anything he has difficulty with, he just stops trying. This gives me some ideas for teaching him perseverence without discouraging him.
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