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A Simple Way to Slow Down these Fast-Paced Days

Linsey Driskill

IMG_0702As busyness emerges with school and activities, we can slow down these fast-paced days with one-on-one time with our kids. Four years ago, my husband came up with the idea to take turns bringing each of our children on a weekend trip. I love the parts of our children’s personalities that spring up during that sweet time.

When we can’t take trips, we’ll take advantage of one-on-one time with normal errands like going to the grocery store, walks, picking up donuts, reading, playing Uno, or riding bikes. There are plenty of times our whole family joins in (like on hikes or Costco visits for samples!), but those one-on-one adventures are so key for our relationships, whether it’s five minutes or an hour.

This doesn’t happen every day, but we strive to regularly connect in this way. It’s slowed down these fast-paced days for a sweet, sweet moment.

Here’s a picture from our kiddos’ first day of second grade – can’t believe it!!! For all those mamas and dads shedding tears as your kids make the big transition of being in school all day, I wrote an article last year about it that I hope will lift you up! Search “God will go before me” in the search bar to the right to read it. You can do this!

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Keeping Conversation Going in the Midst of Busyness

Linsey Driskill

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As the busyness of school and activities begins, asking open-ended questions is a great way to keep conversation going. Instead of asking your kids, “How was your day?”, throw some questions in that don’t end with “fine”, “yes”, or “no”, such as “What was a low and high point today?”, “What did you do at recess?”, “Tell me about your day.”, or “Were you able to encourage anyone that was having a hard time? Tell me about it.

It’s easy to get distracted and miss opportunities to hear about our kids’ days, but let’s take that extra second to connect through asking open-ended questions while eating a meal, tucking them into bed, or driving to the next activity. (And in case you’re wondering, no, we don’t do all those activities on the post-it-notes! (:

Jesus asked about 80 questions in the book of Luke. He not only used questions to teach truth, but also to create authentic relationship with him. Let’s do the same with our kiddos!

“But what about you,” he asked. Who do you say I am? Jesus (Luke 9:20)

What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” Jesus (Luke 10:26)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Jesus (Luke 12:25)

“Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Jesus (Luke 15:4)

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus (Luke 18:41).

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” Jesus (Luke 24:38)

 

Squashing Sibling Spats

Linsey Driskill

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This has been a better way to deal with sibling spats than pulling my hair out. (: They seem to go in cycles – our kids will get along beautifully, and then all of a sudden, a storm hits and the bickering explodes. So this morning, I brought out that dusty MARBLE JAR.

When the disciples argued along the road, Jesus intervened and offered them wise words. So, I gathered my kiddos and shared some verses about peace and loving each other (the verses are below).

I told them that every time they pushed for peace and calmness instead of bickering, they’d get a marble. I reiterated that it’s fine to get mad and upset at times, but if they chose to react with peace, kindness, and calmness instead of harsh words, then Bam! they get a marble. I’ll say something like, “Great job (their name) reacting kindly and pushing for peace, instead of arguing! Go get a marble.” When the jar is full, we’ll go out for ice cream.

You can make the jar for whatever you’re currently dealing with (my one rule is that they can’t ask for a marble). My goal is not to create superficial reactions, but to hopefully spark a habit of peace, kindness, and calmness in their words that becomes more and more natural. And sometimes we, and our kids, just need a jump-start.

While fighting is a reality amongst siblings, the more we squash it, the better, for both our sanity and theirs. I don’t expect all spats to be squashed, but if we can teach better reactions, and thus better arguing, then we will all have better relationships and better days. Cheers to that! You got this!!!

“…Be at peace with each other.” Jesus (Mark 9:50)

“Calmness can lay great offenses to rest.” (Ecclesiastes 10:4)

“Love each other as I have loved you.” Jesus (John 15:12)

“Jesus asked, ‘What were you arguing about?’ But they kept quiet because they were arguing about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” Jesus (Mark 9:33-35)

 

Replace Sulking with Singing (in the rain)

Linsey Driskill

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A rainstorm visited us a few days ago, causing the pool to close. Our triplets broke out their swimsuits and set out for our trampoline. They literally replaced sulking with singing (and jumping) in the rain.

How do we respond to minor inconveniences, or even bigger struggles? As you know, our reactions rub off on our kids. This reality makes me want to pause to take a second breath before sulking. And to try to sing instead. (Something I’m working on!) “Give thanks IN all circumstances,” the Lord says. Not FOR all circumstances, but IN all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

As we take moments to give thanks to the Lord IN our circumstances, our eyes and hearts will shift to things above, and instead of seeing us sulk, our kids will see how to sing in the rain. And many times, our kids will be the ones to show us what it looks like to sing in the rain.

Lord, fill us with your Joy and Presence. Instead of sulking, give us a heart to sing praises to you and give thanks always. To see the bigger picture, even when it rains. To grab a hold of your joy. To grab a hold of you. To shift our hearts and minds on things above. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

My post the other week didn’t come through, so here it is. (: Hope you have a wonderful week! I’m thankful for YOU.

BobGoffQuoteI absolutely love these challenging, upside-down words by Bob Goff in his refreshing book, “Love Does”. How often are we consumed with things that don’t matter? Do we reflect an attitude to our children of putting our energy and efforts into these kinds of things or things that last?

While Paul was imprisoned in Rome in 60 A.D, he wrote these very inspiring words that I hope refresh your soul as they have mine: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:1-2, 15

Lord, help us to be examples to our children of setting our minds and hearts on things above, locking our eyes on that which lasts, and to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I absolutely love these challenging, upside-down words by Bob Goff in his refreshing book, “Love Does”. How often are we consumed with things that don’t matter? Do we reflect an attitude to our children of putting our energy and efforts into these kinds of things or things that last?

While Paul was imprisoned in Rome in 60 A.D, he wrote these very inspiring words that I hope refresh your soul as they have mine: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:1-2, 15

Lord, help us to be examples to our children of setting our minds and hearts on things above, locking our eyes on that which lasts, and to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Subscribe at LinseyDriskill.com to receive my weekly post to your inbox. I look forward to growing together in encouraging our kiddos to love God and love others!

#LoveDoesQuote #Setyourheartsonthingsabove#BeautifulHeartedParenting #Focusonwhatlasts

Inspiring our Children to Believe, “I am Clothed with Strength & Confidence”

Linsey Driskill

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We know our children will interact with both kind and harsh people, but when they face the latter, it’s hard.

Last year in first grade on the walk home from school, my daughter, Brooklyn, said that a boy at school was mean to her. My defenses immediately sprang up. Mama Bear silently held back and listened.

Brooklyn was playing with her friend, but when she told him she was leaving to play with her girlfriends, he rejected her harshly. He kicked mulch at her and yelled, “I don’t like you and don’t want to be your friend anymore.”

Brooklyn was partly upset, but then a look of confidence emerged from her sweet, little face. She said, “Mommy, I walked away from him because I know I am clothed with strength and confidence and that God loves me.” As I was partly shocked by her response, I beamed as I took in her words.

The Proverbs 31 “Wife of Noble Character” story from my devotional had settled deep into her heart. That day at the playground, the words of clothing ourselves with strength and confidence in the Lord armed her and the Lord made her strong.

While my daughter was still upset, she was able to move past the hurtful words because her confidence was not in the boy at the playground, but in our great God who thinks the world of her.

Believe me, episodes don’t always end in this way and many other times she’s wept in my arms. But if we can teach our children when they are young to stand out from the crowd and that their confidence lies in God and not others, they will hopefully be more equipped to stand strong when they do face tougher peer pressure.

Putting our confidence in the Lord is a daily choice we all face – one that I continue to pursue. Jesus’ words in John 5:44 inspire me to do just that: “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God.” Jesus also said in Luke 9:5, “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet…”

When our kids face harsh people, how will they respond?

Jesus always spoke truth to people and didn’t worry about man’s approval. He loved the outcasts, overturned tables in the temple, stayed focus on God’s will regardless of the harshness around him, and never wavered in his faith, confidence and purpose. Jesus simply didn’t care what others thought of Him. He was the greatest example of being humble, yet confident.

What will our kids, and us for that matter, do when others try to sway and intimidate us? I am inspired by men and women in the Bible who set their confidence in the Lord and not people:

Esther stood up to Hamaan, and saved the Jewish people;

Even though Naomi urged Ruth to leave, she stayed. From that secure choice, Ruth married Boaz, and Jesus came from their lineage;

David did not succumb to a bully intimidating him – he confidently proclaimed that he came in the Name of the Lord and prevailed;

Deborah defeated the evil Sisera because she chose not to run away from a scary, unknown situation, but to bravely trust God;

The “crippled woman” staggered to the front of the synagogue while Jesus preached, ignoring the critics and she was healed by Jesus;

Because Jesus wasn’t swayed by people, he was able to fulfill his divine purpose of being Savior of the world.

I assume fear crept into their hearts at times, but they chose to trust God and be brave. I don’t think bravery means never experiencing fear, but rather walking forward in faith. Do we want fear or bravery to drive our choices?

Do we want our children to have courage to stand out from the crowd and follow Jesus? If so, let’s instill the truth in our kids that our confidence comes from God, not others. While there’s no easy formula, we can arm them with words like Jeremiah 17:7: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Our children will then know that their worth is not dictated by others’ opinions, but on the immense love Jesus has for them.

~ I pray that this week each of us would have strength and joy to model confidence in the Lord. And that our children would arm themselves with that same confidence in the One who adores us, loves us, forgives us, and uplifts us: Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, amen. ~