Tag: beautifulheartedparenting

“Do not worry.” Jesus

Linsey Driskill

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Do you worry much? When I do this, I try to think of Jesus’ powerful words, “Do not worry.” This quote by Sissy Goff also encourages me to relax and not worry: “Fearful parents raise fearful kids.”

This idea was magnified at a playground. A boy stood at the top of a spider web climber and his mother told him multiple times, “Be careful!” (Isn’t it so easy to let those words roll off our tongues!). Then the boy fell between the ropes and cried. His mom comforted him. He bravely said, “I want to try again.” His mom said, “No, you just fell and got hurt.” The boy screamed and cried because he wanted to try again, but his mom wouldn’t let him. So they sat on the bench instead.

Maybe that was right for her son. I know all kids are different and have different needs. I do believe in trying something again if they fall so they’re not fearful, but I also know that can be hard as a parent. That scenario made me reflect on how often I say, “Be careful” or say it by my actions. It made me want to open my hands more so my kids aren’t afraid, but feel confident and capable. Most importantly, I want my kids to take to heart the powerful words of Jesus, “Do not worry” and to get their confidence from Him.

Lord, please replace our worries with your peace. I pray each person reading this would experience the power that comes from believing in you and going after your kingdom. Thank you, Lord, that you are far beyond the things of this world. Your love surpasses all. Your peace surpasses all. Your greatness surpasses all. Please lift up each person reading this now. You see them. You know them. You hear them. Lord, please come quickly to them and bless them immensely with the presence and power of your Spirit. Your Kingdom. Your Love. You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Making Memories in the Waiting

Linsey Driskill

fullsizeoutput_745eWaiting is relative. Waiting for traffic to die down, your turn in line, a house contract, a job promotion. And then there’s waiting to see if your child will survive or waiting after a brutal surgery to see if all the cancer is gone. That is excruciating waiting.

While waiting is relative, it’s still tough, especially for children, but it is SO good for them. It reminds them that all will not be at their beckon call. Let’s show our kids they have two choices in the waiting: to waste time or enjoy it.

Going old school on you- the Berenstain Bears video, “Grow It”, is a great episode for younger kids on making the most of the waiting.

I often have to remind myself that MEMORIES ARE MADE IN THE WAITING.

This life is it, so let’s not get our feet stuck in the mud, but instead, rise up and take in what lies in front of us. Just like in the picture, my son, Bates, peered into the hollow of that tree to discover, instead of wasting the moment.

Lord, help us to dive into the moment at hand and not get lost in the waiting. Whatever waiting place each person reading this is in, please cover them and their families with your peace. In the “easier” waiting moments, help us to not grow frustrated, but to find joy in them. In the hard waiting place, I pray John 6:33 would bring hope today: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In Jesus Name, amen.

 

 

IMG_1257And, here are some random helpful tidbits.

1. I finally got a weekly meal chart after seeing my friend’s years ago! It’s been so helpful and cleared up the chaos in my mind with dinner planning!
2. On Fridays, I put a joke in the kids’ lunch boxes. Brings them a laugh and they love it!
3. Letting our kiddos read books in their bed before bedtime has been one of the best things we’ve done. It’s calmed them, created a routine, and grown a love of reading. We started when they were 3. Even though they couldn’t read then, they loved looking at books, and I would read the books to them during the day. Now, they’re 7 and they still enjoy reading their books in bed (we get all our books from the library). If we’re hanging out late with friends or have sports, we skip it, but most nights they read before bed. We’ve started alternating which child my husband, Christian, and I read to each night for 5 or 10 minutes. That’s been great too.
Please comment and share your helpful tidbits too!

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#jokesinlunch #routinesbeforebed #calmingkidsbeforebed#teachingourkidstoread #Mealchart #organizingfamilymeals#Helpfulhints

“Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false.” Jesus

Linsey Driskill

IMG_1071This is a great story to help our kids (and us) absorb the idea of being honest, that it’s okay to have questions, and that Jesus wants us to come to him.

Before traveling to Galilee, Jesus asked Phillip to follow him. Phillip found Nathaniel and told him they had found Jesus of Nazareth. Nathaniel was skeptical and asked, “What good could come from Nazareth?”. Phillip said, “Come and see.” In the midst of Nathaniel’s doubt, he chose to go, and he encountered Jesus.

With Nathaniel’s doubt, was honesty and vulnerability, and here was JESUS’ RESPONSE: “When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said, ‘HERE IS A TRUE ISRAELITE, IN WHOM THERE IS NOTHING FALSE.’”

Could you imagine Jesus saying of you: “Here is a true follower of me, in whom there is nothing false.” Lord, forgive us when we fall short and help us to be true followers of you – to be real and honest, and in the midst of doubt and questions, to choose faith. Please give our kids the wisdom to do the same. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

 

When our kids don’t act Perfectly

Linsey Driskill

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I remember when one of my kids was five and lied about something small. I was shocked since we talk often about telling the truth. Are you also surprised when your child acts up? Why do I expect them to be perfect when I sure am not? It’s as though once I’ve told them how to behave, Poof! They should be perfect robots who do all right, and I am dumbfounded when they don’t.

While we should have expectations for them, I remember reading that a child’s job is to see what they can get away with. Our job is to be consistent with discipline. But just because we are, doesn’t mean they will act perfectly. When my child lied about that tiny thing, I brought up PV 12:22 and gave him a natural consequence. Time and time again, I am called to keep at it – we, as parents, are called to love our kids and keep at it.

Lord, help us stay committed to discipline when we want to throw in the towel. Remind us of our shortcomings when we are so shocked by our kids’, so we can have a spirit of humility. Make us more like you so our kids will also be drawn to be more like you. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Correcting in Quietness

Linsey Driskill

pexels-photo-701014“The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.” Ecclesiastes 9:17

When we’re around friends or in public, correcting in quietness has been far more effective than correcting loudly. Attracting attention like that just embarrasses our children and others, and most of us would rather not be called out in public either. (;

When we’re around friends and one of my kids misbehaves, I walk over to him or her and whisper to come chat with me in the other room. Or, I’ll whisper my expectations in my child’s ear – whatever attracts the least amount of attention. Sometimes I’ll let them know the consequence if they don’t follow through and other times I’ll just give a little reminder.

Continuing with those quiet voices in the home, when it’s just us, is far more challenging, but something I’m striving for. When frustrated, it can be helpful to leave the room instead of regretting words said or to send our children to their room if they’re old enough, to lower our voices to keep control, and to pray – when humility leads us, it’s harder to “shout like a ruler of fools.” While I fail at this many times, I am encouraged that Jesus is our DAILY bread, that his mercies are new EVERY morning, and that He make us more like him when we run to him. Amen to that!

Let’s take on confident, but quieter voices this week when correcting our kiddos so they can be REASSURED with our consistency and BUILT UP by our gentleness and love.