Speak their Language

Ok so this was in my mailbox today, so I am literally just copying and pasting.  But I thought this was such a valuable idea, that even though I am not there yet for my kids, I want to do this when we get there.  I want to encourage those of you who are, PLEASE don't forget your kids, no matter their age!  You show them you love them and your love them for who they are by doing things like this.

May 18, 2012 Speaking Their Language By Melissa Taylor

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV 1984)


"I'm not joining Facebook and I'm not texting you. Don't text message me either. If you want to tell me something, you'll have to speak to me! You kids don't know how to have conversations anymore."


"But Grandpa, you are missing out on so much in my life."


The grandpa's scowl said it all: "I don't care."


This conversation, which I overheard, haunted me for days. I bet Grandpa did care. He just didn't know how to relate to his granddaughter, and new technology probably scared him. I admit it scared me at first too. I'm not fond of change.


When my children were younger, breakfast time consisted of a meal, devotion, and Bible-reading together. I didn't work outside the home like I do now, so I had more time in the morning.


Now I have to make sure the kids are ready, and I am too! There are six people running around, fighting for two bathrooms, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and racing out the door. I miss the intentional time spent teaching my children what I consider most important: God's Word.
Watching my now-teenaged son text message at lightning speed on his cell phone one evening, I wondered: Would it make a difference if I texted my kids a Bible verse each day? I dismissed the thought, thinking it silly to send a text when they should be reading God's Word for themselves.


Then I thought of Grandpa, his refusal to his granddaughter, and her reply. I didn't want to miss out like he was.


Texting my kids a verse each day may not radically change their lives, but then again it might. I wondered, would Jesus text if He were here today?


While on earth, Jesus used language that His audience understood, depending on where He was and the culture of that area. His purpose and message did not change, but His delivery and presentation sometimes did. Jesus reached people where they were. He walked, rode, sailed, and taught at homes, hillsides, banquets, and dinner tables.


It's been a year now since I've started texting Bible verses to my children. Usually I get a response like "thanks" or no response at all, but sometimes I'll receive a verse back. I send them the same verse so, if the opportunity arises, we can talk about it together.


Texting connects with my children because I'm speaking their language. The message hasn't changed, but for the purpose of effectiveness the delivery has, for me and my kids. And much to my delight, sometimes they forward the verse to a friend or two.


Texting may not be my favorite way to communicate, but if it ministers to my children, I don't want to miss it. It's just one more way I can continue to "train up" my children.


This week, let's be on the lookout for new ways we can share God's Word by speaking our kids language.


Dear Lord, change is hard for me, but if there is a way You'd like for me to change for the sake of another, then I will try. With Your help all things are possible. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Building a Bridge to Your Child's Heart (CD) by Lynn Cowell
Visit Melissa's blog and find out how you can receive Melissa's "Top 10 Ways to Connect with Your Children."
Reflect and Respond:
Think of one way you can better connect with someone in your life.
Are you stubborn like Grandpa or willing like Jesus?
Power Verses:
Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (NIV)
Proverbs 31:28-29, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'" (NIV)

© 2012 by Melissa Taylor. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

Training in Grace

Recently I have been convicted and somewhat confused as to what it meant to give grace to your children.  I was thinking, young children don't need grace, they need discipline.  Otherwise its sends confusing messages to them as to when they need to obey and when its ok to do what they are doing.  So I thought, well I guess grace comes later.

Well God has been showing me on the side how he has been showing me grace on a day to day basis.  I started to realize that He doesn't stop from disciplining me, but he shows me grace in how he disciplines me.  He doesn't give me the full punishment of what I deserve - death.  He doesn't yell or become frustrated with me when for the umpteenth time I've had a complaining spirit (like my daughter, wonder where she got that from!) 

Romans 5:20

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁰ God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

So I began to realize that that is how I am to be gracious to my children.  Instead of getting annoyed and tired of the complaining or arguing.  I need to respond in love and grace and TRAIN my children in the moment.  There is a difference between teaching and training.  I always new this and have actually been practicing this in our home, but it really was made clear when reading this post from Woman Living Well blog.  As she writes:

Teaching is giving my children the information they need to succeed. 

But training is giving my children the discipline to carry out what they have been taught.

So yes I discipline for disobedience.  But when they are not responding correctly to life situations, I show grace by not becoming angry that he have done it AGAIN.  But instead train them in how they should have responded.

I pray that God will give me just an ounce of the grace that he shows me.

Ephesians 2:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.