Making Choices: One Way or Another ...
Making Choices: One Way or Another ...
(And how do we know which way to choose?)
(And how do we know which way to choose?)
Directions for Parents:
Print out this image of Jesus: (Click Here). You will see that the image of Jesus is made up of other images. Tell your child that there are many pictures that make up the picture of Jesus (which are all details of his life). For a few minutes (3-5), have your child circle the different images that they see. Have them share with you what images they saw. You can do this activity too and then share with your child what images you saw.
Explain to your child that all of the images are images of things that Jesus experienced and things that he probably thought about. Just like Jesus, we think about the things that happen in our lives. Sometimes it's things that we have done, said or have experienced. While we are like Jesus in that way, the difference between us and Jesus is that Jesus was perfect. We however are not perfect. Sometimes we do or say things that we later feel bad about or regret. Things we know are wrong.
Ask your child (in general) if they have ever experienced that feeling or sense.
Explain that the part in us that helps us to know what is right and what is wrong is called our conscience. For example:
If you think about something nice that you did for someone this week (like your mom, dad, sibling or friend), it is your conscience that lets you know that what you did was good.
If you think about things that we have done that are not good, it is our conscience that lets us know what we did was wrong (like cheating on a test, not doing chores when we have been asked to do them, etc.).
Explain to your child that before we receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we are asked to Examine our Conscience.
Ask your child if he or she knows what that means. If not, break it down. What does it mean to examine?
The word examine means to look at something closely. If we are putting together a puzzle with tiny pieces, we are going to examine what pieces we have so that we can fit the right pieces together. To examine our conscience means that we are going to look closely at or carefully think about what we have done. It is the Holy Spirit in us that can help us remember all of those details we have forgotten - the good things and the bad things.
Now print out the Examination of Conscience sheet (Click Here). Explain to your child that this guide can help us to remember our sins. (Your child can use this guide on the day they receive their First Reconciliation.
We go to confession to ask for God's forgiveness. God is always ready to forgive us, waiting with open arms. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a gift and it helps us to grow close to God. Usually the things that we have done wrong are things that we do to others. For example, we don't listen to our parents or we are not nice towards a classmate, etc. Because God wants us to always try to do our best and care for one another, now take some time to write a forgiveness prayer asking God to help us when we do things that are wrong. Follow the directions below for this activity:
First Step: Have your child think about something that they know they did wrong. Things in general, like: cheating on a test, not doing chores, being mean to a sibling or classmate, etc.)
Second Step: Explain that your child will now write a prayer to God asking for forgiveness.
Third Step: Print out this Prayer to God sheet (Click Here) and have your child complete the sentences.
Fourth Step: If your child would like to, they can share with you their prayer; however, if not, let them keep their prayer private - between themselves and God.