You don't choose
your family. They are God's gift to you. As you are to them.
~Desmond Tutu
Family Closeness
Game:
Pick ‘n’ Choose
This
game goes around the table clockwise. Whoever is to start says two similar
items for example “pizza and ice cream” (both foods). The next person has to
say the thing they like better out of the two within three seconds or less.
Then they get to say two things to the next person and so on around the table.
The thing named could be anything – including animals, toys, tv shows, songs
etc.
Sharing:
Questions for
stimulating discussion in your family.
(In the next few
weeks we are going to have a focus on parents answering some questions. No
doubt when the weekly question is answered, children will have more questions.
The question is asked of the child but the parent might need to answer.)
- Do you know what your mother and father do for work?
- Do you know how your family came to live in this country?
- Do you know what your parents happiest memories of childhood are?
Story
With your family read: Mark 1.29-39
Questions
for Discussion:
- How did Jesus helped Peter’s mother in law?
- What did Jesus do early in the morning? Why do you think he did it at this time?
- What did Jesus say he came to do?
Prayer and Celebration
12 Types of Prayer
In his book ‘The hour that changes the world’, Dick
Eastman outlines twelve different types of prayer . In this miniseries explore
the many different types of prayer with your children.
Thanksgiving
1
Thessalonians 5.18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for
you in Christ Jesus.
Giving thanks to God is one of the most important
types of prayer that we can engage children. Everything we have comes from God,
from our life and breath, to our food and water. There are many ways that you
might pray thanksgiving prayers with your family. At simplest go around the
table saying all the things you wish to give thanks for. Try to see how many
times you can go around. Remember to thank God for spiritual, material,
physical and social gifts he has given us. This should include all the things
that Jesus has done for us. Another more permanent way might be to write or
draw the things you want to thank God for on post-it notes and stick them on a
board or wall somewhere. This can be a great source of encouragement when
things are down, remembering all that god has done for us.
Family
Time
Family Fun Night
Having
a family night is a fantastic and fun way to focus on your family growing together.
What is a family night? It is simply putting aside one evening a week or a
month or whatever regular interval suits you to do something together that
everyone will enjoy. Make sure the dates you pick are in your diaries and give
them the first priority – try to plan well ahead. Give each member a turn to
plan the program for the evening. Make it a rule that there is to be no
complaining or fidgeting and that everyone is to cooperate and participate.
This is especially important for the younger children whose self esteem may be
damaged by older children's comments. Don't forget to talk about the purpose of
the family night. Two key purposes could be 1. To have fun together. (Family
night should be the most anticipated night of the week) 2. To worship the Lord
together. This is an opportunity for parents to model Christian devotion to
their children. (The Big Book of Family Fun. Gwen Ellis.)
(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning
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