We've been been in Utah this week moving Max into his new life and visiting family. It's spring break in the desert. Dave had to fly back early for work and the girls and I are just setting off on our long journey driving home. Wish us luck!
I finally got the chance to respond to some of the comments in past posts yesterday.
I'm never great at replying to questions and thoughts in the comment section but I've been even worse lately because I haven't been around for the past few weeks... I've mostly just had posts scheduled as I've been in and out of much internet connection. So there there are some answers to questions back there if you want to scroll back.
But for today, here's a question someone asked that I wanted to get to because it's something I'm constantly working on...and I know others are too. So here we go:
Would love to hear how you inspire your children in a spiritual way. Love that you have a lot meaningful talks in the midst of everyday life. If you ever want to share a post on your tips on developing spirituality in children I would be all over it. Struggling on how to tap into my kids innate way of connecting with God. Thankfully my girls are still young, so there is time and some maturity will help. As for now, my five year old laughs during prayer and thinks God is not real.
I wouldn't worry too much about that sweet five-year old of yours...I think faith and spirituality are always evolving. I love what you said about your kids' "innate way of connecting with God" because I do believe each child (and adult for that matter) connects in a slightly different way. The key is building spirituality into part of a family culture. Dave and I feel strongly that if we help our children develop a strong relationship with God they will be able to weather anything that comes their way in life. If they can only remember to reach out, reach up, and let Him be their guide.
There are a few things we do in our family and I'd love others to pipe in because I know there are lots of good ideas out there.
Family Scriptures. I know I've talked about this a lot lately, but I do believe it's the best way to have that "spiritual repetition" (remembering the "signs" like I talked about back
HERE) simply built into the day. It serves as a constant reminder that we
can connect with God.
Family Home Evening. We do this on Sundays and have a lesson about some spiritual aspect each week. Sometimes these are impromptu lessons (most of the time)...just something we've been thinking about. Sometimes the kids will want to relate something from a church lesson (in Primary sometimes their teachers have encouraged them to go home and teach their families about what they learned that day and I love that). There are lots of good Family Home Evening ideas on lds.org over
HERE, my sister Saren just sent a great one in particular
HERE, and I've posted about FHE back
HERE and one little "FHE series" idea we did back
HERE (and lots of other places I'm sure). Having an opportunity to discuss faith and spiritual ideas in a safe place is a beautiful thing.
Each month for that FHE on Fast Sundays we have our own family Testimony Meeting (see below).
Family Testimony Meeting. This is one of my very favorite things. Because I believe "a testimony is to be found in the bearing of it" (I have no idea who said that, but I've held onto it for a lot of years). If kids are given the opportunity to express what they believe, what they're struggling with, even what they are hoping to
gain a belief of...to share experiences in a safe environment it builds those feelings and thoughts into tangible parts of their hearts. Not sure if that makes sense, but lots more about family testimony meetings
HERE along with "fasting club."
Family Prayer. We do this at meals, after family devotional, during Sunday Family Home Evenings, at bedtime, as a "huddle" a lot of the time, right before everyone leaves in different directions. Oftentimes we will ask if anyone has anything particular they'd like us to pray for (a test at school, something they're struggling with, etc.) so we can be united in pleading from Heaven for them.
We do all these things and others I'm not thinking of right now, but I believe what you mentioned in the question is what really cements it all together: working meaningful conversations into the minutia of every-day life. Because really, that's were all that faith-building comes into play.
All day, every day.
Whether it's in the car on the way to practice talking through what someone on the team who may not be the nicest may be dealing with, or one child's sorrow over feeling intensely lonely and like they are lacking in friends, or struggling in a particular class at school or requesting guidance to figure out the next step in life or how to deal with emotions that come, how to deal with a sibling who might be driving them crazy...every thing that comes along can be related back to that relationship with God. That all-knowing loving God who wants to carry them through the hard things if they'll let Him.
Sometimes it takes reminding ourselves that He's there. Wanting to hold our hand through the tantrums and the sorrows and the hardships and also celebrating the triumphs (often when something great happens we gather immediately in a little huddle to THANK GOD for the good things that happen...from finding car keys to an "answer" to a tough decision).
He is there. Oh, how I hope these kids can always remember that. And that they have a Savior who paved the way so that we can all return to Him some day.