Tag: beautifulheartedparenting

An Easter Activity Explaining Forgiveness

Linsey Driskill

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I got this Easter Activity from Courtney DeFeo’s wonderful book, “In this House We Will Giggle.” Here’s what you do:
1. Tie two sticks together to make a cross.
2. You and your kids write down some of your sins- ways you have not loved God or others. On Good Friday, tape them on the cross (we taped them backwards so they were between them & God).
3. Easter morning before your kids are awake, throw the papers away so they only see the cross. This is a great visual to explain that when we believe in Jesus we can be with him forever because we are forgiven of ALL of our sins. He took them upon himself when he died on the cross and rose three days later. His love is more powerful than anything!
Happy Easter!!!

An Encouraging Word from Katie Davis Majors as Easter Approaches

Linsey Driskill

unnamedAs Easter approaches, Katie Davis Majors’ words from her book, “Daring to Hope”, hit home:

“I stand there in the kitchen, my inadequacy exposed…I chastise myself for losing my temper, for not giving [my daughter] the consistently calm response she needs. As I’m tempted to wallow in guilt over all that I am not for my children, gently [the Lord] points out that I was never meant to meet all their needs anyway. It isn’t me who can make up for all their losses and hurts. He reminds me that I cannot be what they need Him to be: Savior. I quietly beg him to fill in the gaps. Really, we are all crying out for the exact same thing: a true and consistent love that does not waver. A Savior who comes and binds up our wounds.” Katie Davis Majors

It’s so easy to find all the areas in parenthood where I fall short, and there are many, but her words remind me that it’s okay- I wasn’t meant to do it all. Jesus is the Great Rescuer, not me. He’s the one who makes all right and good and whole and healed. When Jesus died on the cross and rose three days later, he provided a hope here and now, and forever.

Jesus, please fill in the gaps we have created as parents and meet our children’s needs. Where we have been weak, please make us all strong. When we want to cling to guilt for our shortcomings, help us to tap into the freedom and redeeming hope that we have in you. We pray your joy would fill our hearts. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Losing Keys & Finding Grace

Linsey Driskill

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I made a classic parenting mistake with my six-year-old daughter, Gracie. She has been very into clip-on-earrings, but has repeatedly lost them. In frustration, I huffed, “Gracie, you’re not being responsible with them. I’m not getting you any more earrings.”

Then my husband ever so accurately reminded me: “Linsey, you have lost your keys three times in the last two weeks. You lose more than Gracie and she’s only six!” Thankfully, my husband found my keys in the front door the first time and our UPS friend discovered them in the door the second time. The third time, I spent twenty minutes looking for that house key, and my husband found it buried in my purse!

And my daughter isn’t being responsible? I felt so wrong, right there in my husband’s words. Why do I selfishly extend more grace to myself than my six-year-old daughter?

I asked Author Ted Tripp a question at a conference about raising children: “When I constantly correct them, I feel like I am communicating the message that I have it all together and that they are the only ones in need of correction. How can I avoid this?”

I asked Author Ted Tripp a question at a conference about raising children: “When I constantly correct them, I feel like I am communicating the message that I have it all together and that they are the only ones in need of correction. How can I avoid this?”

I loved Ted Tripp’s response: “When you are correcting your children, get on their level, and let them know that you also are working on the very same things–that you are in this together. ” The simple idea that we are a team resonates with me and has created so much more connection with my children.

I asked Gracie to forgive me for my impatience. I shared with her that I lose many things myself, and that we can work on being more responsible together. Relief covered her face. Yes, great expectations are needed for our children; however, I was reminded to gently correct and share that I am working on areas also.

It can be easy to lose our cool in the moment, but Proverbs 16:32 encourages us to take a deep breath instead of uttering harshness: “Better a patient person than a warrior,one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Ten years from now, I prefer my children to know that I’m not perfect, that we work on issues as a family, and that I love and accept them, and myself, through all our imperfections. After all, that’s what unconditional love is–loving through the mess and offering grace along the way. Not keeping a record of wrongs.

That’s exactly what the Lord does for us. And that’s the kind of love I want to give to my kids.

The next time Gracie loses her earrings and I lose my keys (and hopefully find them), I will remind my Gracie that we are working on this together, but that I’m thankful we have the most important thing down: we sure do love each other.

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Article originally published on Church.org.

The Perfect Love of God

Linsey Driskill

Denver quote

Wow, are Denver’s words challenging to me (they’re based on Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:32-36). The question that comes to mind is: In what ways can we, and our children, stretch ourselves to love like this?

 

 

Fun Craft Idea to do with your Kiddos

Linsey Driskill
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This is a fun way to spend some quality time with your kiddos! If you do #8 on “20 Ways to Spice up Days with our Kiddos” (https://linseydriskill.com/?s=spice) and pick a country with rain forests, have fun making one out of tissue boxes, cling wrap, paint, play dough, and paper towel tubes! My kids loved this!