I'm Bob's wife and a mother of four B.E.A.R. kids (since I'm a teddy bear lover) - ages range from 6 to 12 years. We live in Eagan, MN! I could never find any Catholic teachings for my children that were very comprehensive so I compiled a collection of resource materials of prayers and devotionals. You can read the upcoming Sunday reading with your kids and you'll find a host of mini homilies to recite to your children with Gospels for the Mass under "The Word." You'll be equipped with the tools for the liturgical seasons as you teach about Christmas (Advent wreath) with the simple laying of a piece of yarn in your nativity stable for good deeds by your children and singing "Away in the Manger" as part of your bedroom routine. The Easter (Lenten, Stations of the Cross) activities will also help you bring faith and traditions into the lives of your child(ren) in a lively way. I hope the treasury of prayers and guides that I have arranged make you and your family grow in your Christian faith. I believe faith is best served family-style, and we should build our faith at home. Parents can be significantly influential in passing on your faith in God since God holds us primarily accountable for the spiritual maturation of our child(ren). Fathers particularly can play a significant role training their children and should be the leader whenever possible. When you connect with your child(ren) spiritually, your kids will respond to these learning moments, making an impact in their lives with your love. They just need motivation, expectation and imitation from us in shaping their religious lives to live out their faith in our world. We can't just leave spiritual formation to the church and schools alone. We can dramatically change our church culture one family at a time. I've found that the kids treat grace as an opportunity to talk about their concerns. It gives us all a chance to show how we can communicate to God. So be an apostle to your child by helping to raise coming generations to be Christ followers by nurturing their faith with prayers, Bible reading, faith talk, devotionals and service. Morning: Morning Offering, Angel of God
Mealtime Grace
Nighttime: Prayers, Bible Stories, Devotional, a decade of the Rosary and even a Saint a Night ...topping it off with a blessing (sign of the cross on child(ren)s forehead) are all wonderful!
And couple prayer is important too with devotions, reading a spritual book together, Liturgy of the Hours evening prayer and praying for your kids.
I created a teen section because I believe we need to help our children battle the influences of drugs, sexuality as well as inappropriate movies, television, songs and the Internet. It's our goal as parents to raise our kids in this X rated culture to become G-rated people. It can feel overwhelming trying to give teens that tools they need to make godly decisions in an ungodly world. Your home ought to be the place where your kids can drop the battle armor and truly feel safe; where they can be loved and known and cared for as Children of God in Christ's teachings.
One of the things your family can do during Advent for instance is instead of drawing names for gifts, you can draw a name and then pray for that family membere person and do little things for them. On Christmas Eve you can reveal who you had, and then say how the other person brings Christ to the world. Give your children three and only three Christmas Gift. Jesus also received three gifts from the wise men (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), so we figure if it was good enough for Him, then it is good enough for our children! We share with our children that they are receiving three gifts, just as Jesus did, and it makes the holiday more meaningful as well....maybe something useful like pajamas, a gift card and then a "fun gift! For Lent, children can not only give up candy, TV and video games (except Sundays), we can send the message of self-sacrifice and have them practice be more loving. You can get a bean jar going for each nice act they do and then on Easter replace their beans with jellybeans! There are Video Stations, make your own Resurrection Eggs with Bible Scriptures and you can join Holy Heroes all found under the Lent/Easter section and Printables. You just have to create the space and some quiet time in the midst of all the busyness of your lives for reflection, connections, and centering yourself. I've tried to teach them moral lessons with my blogs. Then bring in some readings, prayers, images and even music. You can overcome your own discomfort and find what feels comfortable and enriching for you. You might just be surprised at what your family can and will come away with...
Jennifer Gansler
Contact jkgansler@yahoo.com -Comments or Suggestions
You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 | he family that prays "The family that prays together, stays together. May your home be the shrine of peace, purity, love, labor and faith.
Jennifer Gansler
Heavenly Father, We Your people come together in prayer for our children. Keep them safe this day, protect them from the evil one, give them wisdom, to resist temptation when it They are only ours for such a short They are Yours, You created them and You love them so. Send Christian mentors into their lives, who they will listen to. Mentors who are walking who will guide and direct them |
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