Monday, May 7, 2012

Lessons from A to Z ~ Letters for Our Children


    

Last Month Chad and I were blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Mediterranean for a cruise with Chad’s family.  We were gone for a total of 11 days.  It was amazing, and humbling to be given such an opportunity. 

But with any major trip, the more prepared you are, the more likely you are to relax & enjoy it.  And we fully intended to enjoy this trip!  So Chad planned trip details, I prepared the home-front for our kids and their sitters. I made a notebook with house and kid info for the sitters.  We talked to our kids early on about what we were doing, what we planned for them and what we expected of them while we were gone.

Someone gave me another great idea: We made a big map of our trip, with daily letters for the kids to open, read where we were, what we were doing, and move a  little cruise ship around the map.  We added in a       personal note and a present for each of them mid-way through, to encourage them.

It was a success!  Each day, the kids excitedly read our letters, and moved the ship around the map.  When we got home, I was surprised at how much they remembered and how it helped during the time we were away.  Their example made me think about how I approach the Bible—God’s own letter to His children

As His child, do I eagerly run to His letters each day?  Do I        remember the words He has written?  Words of encouragement, instruction, even correction?  The Bible is full of personal         encouragements and information for each stage of our lives as children of God—whether babies in our faith, young and growing, or those who are more mature and helping care for others.  This is His letter to His children until His return.  I want to follow the examples of my children and eagerly run to it each day.

What words does He have for you today?

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,          rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17