Welcome to my “Month of Encouragement for Moms” sponsored by D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries. If you found your way here from my P31 devotion, I’m so glad you stopped by. And if you’re one my regular blog readers, thanks for being here each day. Your comments encourage me when I don’t know what to write; your thoughts and thanks let me know it’s making a difference. I am loving this journey with you as we find practical ways to connect spiritual truths with everyday life experiences – for us and our families.
In last Wednesday’s post, I talked about God giving me hope as a mom by giving me a new perspective of parenting. He challenged me to stop focusing on my kids’ habits and invest in their hearts by looking for ways to notice and nurture their character. From that day forward I looked for ways to learn and live God’s truths in everyday life lessons. Today’s devotion came after that commitment. One day I was reading about Davids passion for treasuring God’s Word in His heart, and thinking about my kids passion for a treasure hunt. I decided to combine the two and encourage my boys to approach reading the Bible like looking for a treasure in a field, and find ways to share that treasure with others. One night around the dinner table, we talked about the character trait of KINDNESS. Here’s a little family devotion I wrote as a result:
Todays’ Treasure of Truth:1 Thessalonians 5:15, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
Kindness means being nice to others with your actions and your words.
The Map of God’s Word:Read John 1:43-49. While Jesus was walking down the road with his disciples, Philip saw his friend Nathanael. He was so excited to tell Nathanael that they had met Jesus. Nathanael’s first response was sarcastic and unkind. As soon as he heard where Jesus was from, Nathanael said, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Instead of returning Nathanael’s comment with an insult, Jesus responded with kindness. When He saw Nathanael coming toward him he told the others that Nathanael was a person of character, true on the inside and out. Nathanael was surprised by Jesus’ kindness. He wondered how Jesus knew about him. When Nathanael saw the kindness in Jesus’ heart that formed the words on His lips, his sarcasm turned into faith. He returned Jesus’ thoughtfulness with kind words of his own.
A Nugget of Wisdom:Kindness is easy when others are being nice to us, but Jesus wants us to be kind no matter what.
Making Character Count:Developing God’s character isn’t just about doing good things; it’s about being Christ-like in our attitudes and actions. Talk as a family about the importance of having a heart like Jesus, remembering that before we can offer others what God has given us, we need to take time to acknowledge and thank him for His kindness towards me and
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that your love is patient and kind. Please help us to be kind to each other and those outside of our family. Help us to think of ways we can show kindness each day. And please remind us of how kind you were with your words and actions to those who were not kind to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Ways to live and give the treasure ofKindness:
- Say thanks when someone does something kind or gives something to you.
- Say please when asking for something.
- Offer to help a friend or sibling with homework.
- Tell someone else what you like about them.
- Let someone in line before you.
- Be friendly by saying hello and smiling at people.
- Give a thoughtful gift to someone for no reason.
Copyright 2009, Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
Today’s Mom Give-Aways
Today we are choosing winners from the comments and giving away two D6 mom resources – a copy of my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and George Barna’s “Revolutionary Parenting”. Please include your email so we can reach you if you win.
We’ll be giving away gifts every weekday, so be sure to come back for more mom encouragement and resources from D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
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Renee,
I loved your devotional today. Treasure hunting is an awesome way of looking at the Bible. Thanks again for sharing. I love all the time that you are devoting to parenting.
I am enjoying a “snow day” with my kids as well.
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Just want to say thanks! Found your site through Crosswalk.com and I will be back. As a single mom of 9 yr old twins I don’t always have time for lots of things, but your thoughts are always easy to put into use. Thanks again!
I dido everything Mary Lynn said except I have 2 older ones. :)Thank you again for all these great things to do as a family.
Have a peaceful day!
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I found your blog through the P31 devotional. Thank you for giving encouragement without making me feel guilty!
I found your blog through the Proverbs 31 devotional. What a wonderful devotion this is! I will definitely be back… as I am the mom of 5 year old twin boys and I love the ideas you are sharing to reach our children’s hearts…
Thank you and Blessings!
Perfect for a devotional tonight! My 13 year old said they studied the Fruit of the Spirit at MYF this past Sunday night. His fruit was kindness! He said his group had to come up with examples. He thought his were lame. We talked about it on the way home that night. This will bring it home even more. Awesome!!!! Thanks!!!!
I just want you to know how much I appreciate your devotions. Being the mom of 3 boys is challenging, and you always seem to have a word of encouragement just for me. I am trying to focus on the gold in my children. God is so good and He is always faithful. Thanks for sharing with us.
Barbara
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Once again such a timely blog entry. God has been teaching/ convicting me of my own tenancies to gossip, slander and fault-find. Teaching a lesson is such a great way to learn a lesson.
Please enter me in the drawing.
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Renee,
I have enjoyed your P31 devotionals for a long time and am grateful to have recently discovered your blog… I too often focus on the dirt in my kids, rather than the nuggets. Thank you for challenging me and encouraging me to help my kids see the Bible as a treasure map for living and a relationship with Jesus as the ultimate prize. Blessings to you and your family~
I had to share that same lesson yesterday with my 11 year old son. He still has a hard time with people picking on him. He knows to act kindly but yesterday he decided to pick back. I told him it was wrong for him to stoop to their level and that when they say or do something ugly it is his chance to say something nice in return. God is so good to keep all of us on the same page a lot of times and is always sending resources to help. That is exactly what your blog was for me- a resource. Thanks!
Thank you for encouraging moms to teach their children God’s Word. It truly is a treasure. I mentor mommies of preschoolers and am always looking for material to help them get into God’s Word with their children. I am interested in your Mining the Heart of the Child materials, but I would like to see a sample before I can recommend it to the mommies. Do you have a sample I could see? Thank you. Keep searching for those nuggets!!
Thank you for your blog today. I have 4 children and my husband has been having us work through the Fruit of the Spirit and we are working on kindness…I read parts of your blog to them today as we have no school because it is a snow day.
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Thanks for the devotions. I am using them with my children. I so enjoyed hearing you speak in Houston! Thank you for giving away those tickets!!
Oh – REvolutionary parenting is on my to buy list…..one of the few that I don’t have. 🙂
Thank you I needed the devotion for my children. My kids range from a 5-6 year difference and they have a tendency to not be as kind to each other as I would like. The oldest one Snaps at the middle child who inturns snaps at the youngest child as well as acts out in school. So thank you for the devotion i can share with my childen on kindness
Hi Renee, I just stumbled upon your blog through Proverbs 31 devotions. I went back and read some of your archived posts. You have such an uplifting spirit. I have three children, ages nine, six, and four months. I have been praying that God will show me the areas in which I need improvement as a mother and wife. God has used your words to speak directly to my heart. Thank you!
I started reading your blogs recently and trying to make it more of a habit. Thanks for the encouragement. It is so needed for mothers today.
Laura V.
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Thank you so much for the blessing that your blog is to me. I recently found it & have been so encouraged.As a homeschool mom & being pregnant right now I am struggling, so your site is exactly what I need! Thanks=)
Renee, I love your blog….I am now a daily reader and love the words of wisdom I receive from you each day. I am the mom of two lovely daughters, 10 & 2. My 10 y.o. is doing Upward Basketball so we are going to tie in her bible verses and lessons from that program into our family dinner discussions. I love your ideas and the ideas I get from the comments left by your other readers. God Bless You!
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Thank you for sharing Renee about kindness, these are things I can teach my six grandkids as I spend time with them!