Use the great character-building lessons for kids from Devotions with Dad by putting your own style and personality into the process. You can raise good kids with the skills and experience God has given you, Dad. Do not lean on Devotions with Dad as a crutch, but let it be a trampoline to boost you a little higher in leading your family to heaven. You, your kids, and God’s Word. Keep it that simple. Everyday sit down with your children and instill God’s principles into their lives. Here are three keys to keep in mind.
Tell the story
The character-building lessons hidden in the Rusty and Misty stories for kids will work best when you loosen up. If you are not a great reader, Dad, then relax and just tell the story. Read through the children’s story in advance, and then feel free to retell it in your own words if you like. Your kids have not read it to know if you miss any details or change it slightly. Keep in mind: these are your kids; they are your character-building project. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in raising them to godliness.
Dramatize the Bible reading
When you go to read the Bible, do not put your family to sleep. When you do the character building story of the Pharisee and the Publican, use a high-pitched, arrogant voice for the Pharisee. And when you read the publican’s piece, use a deep, sad voice. Mix it up. When reading the story of Pharaoh, give him an English accent if you like. Have Moses speak with a French lilt, or whatever. Make it fun and you will find your character-building lessons to be much more effective as your children laugh and learn from a lively Bible presentation.
Hide God’s Word
Memorizing scriptures is like pumping a well. When you grab one of the old well-pump handles, it goes up and down very easily. You jerk it up and down very quickly and do not seem to get any response. Keep at it. After about 20 or 30 pumps, it grabs water and you can pump less. As long as you keep pumping, the water flows no problem.
When you start memorizing verses together, it can feel like a lot of pumping getting nowhere. Stay with it for a few weeks and suddenly their minds and hearts will catch hold. Consistently pump the Word of God into them for the rest of the time they live with you.
Let out the String Slowly
My son and I went out last week to fly his newly made kite. While standing out in the bitter wind trying to coax that thing into the air, I realized how much parenting resembles kite flying. Dad, you and I must connect with our kids. Tied to our heartstrings, our children depend on us to give them their lift in life.
Our kids need our help, Dads, to navigate the tree limbs of puberty, the power lines of peer pressure, and the tangles of rebellious attitudes. Each posting on this blog will help you watch the wind changes as your child manages the turbulent times ahead. If we drop our responsibility, they fall flat on their faces; hang on too tightly, they buck and kick against our iron rules; jerk them around, the line of communication may break completely.
As children mature, we learn to let them have more distance. They rise on the currents of life while gradually pulling away from us and our homes. As they ascend through the teen years, young adulthood, and into a family of their own, we may only see them at a distance. Still we will feel a gentle tug close at the heartstrings, reminding us dads of the inseparable connection we have as their greatest heroes in life.
Make memories and enjoy these character-building lessons with your family.