Author: Linsey Driskill

Hi! I've been married more than 15 years, have triplets, and love encouraging families in following Jesus and his words: to love God and love others. I love spontaneity, simplicity, and authenticity. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram Page @BeautifulHeartedParenting and at LinseyDriskill.com.

“Roly Polies, Sticks, and Mud: Finding Freedom in Simplicity”

Linsey Driskill

pexels-photo-85599Are our houses overflowing with toys?

What are we teaching our kids about where to find contentment?

How can we encourage simplicity with our kids so they don’t get wrapped up in “things” – things that don’t satisfy?

We’ve all seen it: once they get that toy they’ve always wanted, it eventually loses it’s shine and they’re on to something else. Even though the best and brightest toys might attract our kids attention at first, most of the time kids have more fun playing with boxes, roly polies, sticks, and mud anyway.

I want my kids to be kids and enjoy life, and it is fun when they get a toy they’ve always wanted – there’s nothing wrong with that – I just want them to be content with what they have, use their creativity with simple things, be open-hearted to give, and be mindful of where their greatest joy lies.

My hope is that as I consistently teach them that loving God and others matters most, their hearts will yearn for greater things over temporal things.

Five practical ways to reinforce simplicity:

  1. Have THEM pick out some of their toys to give to a local shelter so they can learn to keep their hands open.
  2. Go together to buy crafts or toys for children staying at the hospital and bring them there together. When children give to others, their focus is taken off of themselves.
  3. Not giving our kids every single toy they ask for also reminds them that the world does not solely revolve around them – a hard, but valuable lesson to learn early on. They will learn it someday, so I’d rather my kids learn it from me. Our children will then find ways to enjoy what they already have and their creativity will thrive.
  4. The Rhyme Bible has an impactful story to read to our kids about “the rich fool” from Luke 12 who wanted “more, more, more,” but was never satisfied. In that story, Jesus reminds us that, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). I often remind my kids that more, more, more won’t make you happy, but Jesus, friends and family do. They know this saying by heart, and it has taken root in their heart and soul.
  5. Celebrate those moments when our kids choose to give something away on their own, letting them know that they are loving as Jesus tells us to, so they are more likely to do it again.

When we follow some of these practical ideas, our kids will begin experiencing the freedom that comes with simplicity.

Previously published by Church.org.

 

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” JN 14:6

Linsey Driskill

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These pictures are a great visual to teach the Good News of Jesus to our children. In John 14:5-6, Thomas asked Jesus, “How can we know the way? Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” With these pictures, we can teach our children that sin separates us from God, but that Jesus made a way for us to be with Him now and forever through dying and rising on that glorious third day!

 

Looking to our Children’s Heart

Linsey Driskill
IMG_4897“Jesus became angry and distressed at [the Pharisees] stubborn hearts” (Mark 3:5) when the crowd was more concerned with the Sabbath day and following rules than healing the crippled man. Do we ever act like the Pharisees in our home by getting more wound up in rules and schedules than our children’s hearts?
 
How can we see straight through to our children’s needs during the day to day so we don’t act like the Pharisees? One way is by praying for the Lord to show us each of their needs. As we pray for this wisdom and read Scripture, the Lord will direct our hearts and minds to be in tune with our children’s needs. We’ll never arrive here on earth, and many times I fail miserably, but because of His great grace, I can try again to put their hearts and spirits first. This shift of outlook will hopefully bring more joy and laughter into our homes as well.
 
And, to clarify, I’m not saying our kids should have free reign – I’m a big believer in kids being respectful. But as parents, we have the great responsibility to not just ensure our children are following rules, but also to shepherd their hearts. Let’s take a step back to check ourselves, and let’s point our children in the direction of loving God and loving others by showing them Jesus’ kind of love where we look first to the heart.

The Love Others Jar: A Simple Way to Spark Joy in your Children to Serve!

Linsey Driskill

The Love Others Jar is a simple way to spark joy in your children to serve. Just print out the ways to serve below, cut each strip out, and put them in a jar or bag.

Each week, one of your kids picks a card from the jar for your family to fulfill.  Ask your children for ideas too- so many creative ideas fill their minds when we ask for their input.

20 Ways to Serve with our Kids

 

Ring & Run: Dress up in disguise! Leave a flower

or goody bag at a friend’s door with an anonymous

note of why their family is awesome.

Ring the doorbell and run!

 

Pick out clothes & toys to give away

to a shelter.

 

Call your grandparents or someone special

and ask them to share one of their best

childhood memories.

 

Write fun and encouraging chalk messages

on a friend’s driveway.

 

Bring a meal or activity bag to a family of a

deployed soldier.

 

Give the principal and a teacher notes saying

you are thankful for all they do.

 

Leave notes in friends’ mailboxes about

why you appreciate them.

 

Bring a meal to a friend just to love them well.

 

Each day this week, hold the door for

someone.

 

Bring your teacher something to make him

or her smile.

 

Leave post-it-notes for family members of why

they’re special in different places in your home.

 

Let someone go ahead of you each day this week.

 

Write 2 thank you notes this week.

 

Donate books to a local shelter.

 

Make cookies or a card for the mailman, janitors

at your school or church, or the garbage man to

show them you appreciate them.

 

Put bubbles and other activities/crafts

in a bag and bring to a family with young children.

 

Bring new toys to children who are sick and

stay at the hospital.

 

Write encouraging notes like “you are special”

and put them in library books.

 

Take treats and cards to first responders to thank

them for their hard work.

 

Bring fruit and snacks with a poster for nurses and

doctors at your pediatrician’s office or a local

hospital to show gratitude for them.

 

Small Things with Great Love

Linsey Driskill
Small Things
We all want to be the best parents we can be, but this desire can be overwhelming, wondering if we’re getting it “right.” Mother Teresa reminds us that love is what matters, whether big or small. Let’s slow down this week and find ways to do small things with great love, such as listening to our children. I once heard an author, Tedd Tripp, say that if we listen well to our kids when they are little (even when they seem to be talking about nothing), when they are older, they will know we are listening. This week let’s look into our children’s eyes when they speak to us, take an extra minute to play with our kids, surprise our spouses or friends by doing a chore for them, or make a meal or card for someone. Let’s make a difference today by doing “small things with great love.”