Today’s post is by guest Jessica Smartt.
Do you ever wonder whether you’re teaching your kids enough about Jesus? Ever fear that you’re behind, and worry that you’ve missed something, that your kids are lacking something in their knowledge or faith?
If you do, join the club.
I love my three children dearly, and nothing is more important to my husband and me than passing on our faith to them as they grow.
Yet we often wonder – Have we done enough? Will they want to follow Him? Do they really understand who God is? In the midst of the soccer games, and home school days, and going to birthday parties, and washing the dishes and all of that daily…are we accomplishing what really matters? Have we taught our kids enough about Jesus?
I tackle some of these questions, and offer a few solutions, in my e-book, How To Introduce Your Child To Jesus. Rest assured, I did not write this book because I think I have all the answers.
I wrote it because I do not.
I wrote it because I wanted to brainstorm how to share your faith with a child, to find the best resources, to think through the conversations. While I believe we don’t ultimately have the power to make our kids turn out one way or another – I want to do all I can do, I want to lay my head on the pillow when the day is done and know that I’ve done my best.
My e-book goes into specific depth about this – sharing the books I love, common personalities of kids I’ve observed, answers to common questions, etc. Today Sara Elizabeth is graciously allowing me to share a few general thoughts with you all about this question – How can we introduce Jesus to little ones?
If you long to teach your children about Jesus, here are a few things that are encouraging (and helpful) to me:
- God hears and answers prayers for our children. Five years ago we went through a terrifying ordeal with our son, Sam. I emailed a few friends asking for prayer, and one woman (an older friend with grown children) emailed back two sentences, almost matter-of-factly: “Jessica, I will pray. God has been so faithful with my boys, and He will be with yours, too.” Slowly, slowly, I understand her quiet confidence, as the Lord answers prayer upon prayer for our children. He is a God who hears.
- Children appreciate – and need – our honesty. They’re like us, ya know? They don’t need leaders and friends with trite, regurgitated answers. They need someone with faith real and alive, who knows what it feels like to be sad, to hurt for something, to be curious and wonder. Don’t feel pressure to manufacture faith or answers. Search for the Lord honestly in front of your children.
- To teach your kids about Jesus, you have to have conversations. Lots of them. I’m as guilty as the next mom of getting caught up in the mundane schedules of life, and forgetting to stop for these deep conversations. In my book I share twenty-five everyday ways to incorporate talk of Jesus into your day-to-day life. These twenty-five ways are really nothing more than stopping to think of Jesus regularly throughout your day, and sharing these thoughts with your little ones. It’s something we all can do.
- Relationship matters. That cheesy phrase: They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care… it’s so true, isn’t it? This is both easy and hard, because it means we need to play lots of Barbies and Candy Land and tickle games, and stopping to admire Lego creations, and agreeing to Please, Mommy, wait for me. These little things aren’t actually little, because they matter to our children, and show them that we care. About them.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a story. I love reading good books to my children, because they teach them what I cannot. Even if I’m exhausted beyond belief, even if I’m worried or preoccupied with something, I can always read a story. As you know, there are some excellent children’s Bibles and faith-based storybooks. Our favorite is The Jesus Storybook Bible, but there are others. I share more of our favorites in my e-book.
Do you ever worry whether you’ve taught your kids “enough” about Jesus? What are your favorite ways to share your faith with little ones?
Jes
sica Smartt is a former school librarian an English teacher who now she works much harder just being a mom. You can find her blogging at “Smartter” Each Day where she pokes fun at the everyday challenges of motherhood, shares all her delicious allergy-free recipes, and rejoices that God loves her no matter what phobia she’s recently developed. She is blessed to the moon and back with two energetic little boys and a husband who actually never worries.
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I worry about this all of the time. What if I lose a moment to share with them. What if my explanation of salvation confuses them and turns them away! Thanks for sharing this!