7 Tips To Present Jesus To Your Children
Date: April 22, 2022
1. Let your kids see your Real Faith.
Real Faith is messy. It feels guilty after losing a temper. It worries when kids are sick. It wanders during the day, even forgetting to thank the Giver of all the gifts. So, don’t feel pressure to be “perfect.” Instead, be real with God – in front of your children. Are you worried? Tell them, and pray. Are you exhausted? Tell them, and pray.
2. Apologize often.
How powerful this is, and we forget it! I can still hear my mother’s voice in my head: Mommies make mistakes, too. Do you forgive me? It’s counter-intuitive, but seeing my parents’ humble requests for forgiveness was a powerful statement to me of their character, and their love for me.
3. Find a good kids’ Bible, and read it routinely.
We’re so fortunate today to have access to many excellent children’s Bibles. (Not all on the shelf are good, but many are. I review my favorites in my book.) God’s word, above all, is the source of all truth. It brings hope and light to the darkness! Show them His word.
4. Spend time playing Legos, and combing Barbie’s hair, and giving back scratches.
In other words: If you don’t have a positive relationship with your children, your religious talk might be harder to accept. Introduce your children to Jesus by praying with them and letting them see YOU pray throughout the day!
5. Spend time on your own with the Lord.
Easier said than done, right? We all instinctively know we need to do this, but it can be hard! Here are a few tips:
Be gracious to yourself when your quiet times falter (because they will at some point if you are a tired and busy mommy), and don’t let guilt keep you from coming to Jesus, even if it’s been a month since you’ve cracked a Bible. Start now, where you are.
Be with Jesus during the day, while the kids are there. Pray out loud for your needs. Talk to Jesus when they’re listening. Read a verse out loud. You can learn while they learn.
6. Talk about Jesus often with your kids.
When I started brainstorming for my book, I easily came up with over a dozen ways we can talk about Jesus with our kids – just in normal, everyday conversation. It’s just a matter of being aware of those ways, and doing it!
7. Remind your children often, "I love you so much, and God loves you, too".
This is something I learned from my very-wise mom, who often gets frustrated with complicated Sunday school curriculum. When they’re so little, she says, they just need to know two things: God made everything, and God loves them. What a relief, huh? Give your little ones a hug, and tell them, God loves you so much, do you know that? This little phrase, with a hug…so powerful!