• • • • •
Parenting Tip
December 24, 2008
Christmas: Don’t Forget to Say Thank You
Gratefulness is an important life quality because it helps us to be thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have. Gratefulness is a lifestyle but it starts by saying “Thank you” to others who bless us.
Begin now to prepare your children for receiving gifts. Talk about the importance of the giver, not just the gift. Teach children to look at the nametag first so they can be thinking of the person who gave the gift while they open it.
Encourage children to express thanks to the giver, even if that person is not in the room at the time. A phone call to extended family or a thank you note to a distant friend can mean a lot.
Gift receiving sometimes provides that awkward moment when we want to ask, “What is this?” or discover that we already have one of these. Play a “What if” game with children to help them anticipate how they might say thank you in those times.
Opening gifts can happen fast and then children are off playing with new toys and games. Helping them to take time to express gratefulness can extend the true meaning of Christmas past the few hours of Christmas Day. And don’t forget to take time to thank the Lord for his special gift in Jesus Christ for us.
To learn more about teaching gratefulness, take a look at the book Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
• • • • •
Parenting Tip
December 24, 2008
Christmas: Don’t Forget to Say Thank You
Gratefulness is an important life quality because it helps us to be thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have. Gratefulness is a lifestyle but it starts by saying “Thank you” to others who bless us.
Begin now to prepare your children for receiving gifts. Talk about the importance of the giver, not just the gift. Teach children to look at the nametag first so they can be thinking of the person who gave the gift while they open it.
Encourage children to express thanks to the giver, even if that person is not in the room at the time. A phone call to extended family or a thank you note to a distant friend can mean a lot.
Gift receiving sometimes provides that awkward moment when we want to ask, “What is this?” or discover that we already have one of these. Play a “What if” game with children to help them anticipate how they might say thank you in those times.
Opening gifts can happen fast and then children are off playing with new toys and games. Helping them to take time to express gratefulness can extend the true meaning of Christmas past the few hours of Christmas Day. And don’t forget to take time to thank the Lord for his special gift in Jesus Christ for us.
To learn more about teaching gratefulness, take a look at the book Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
Christmas Family Devotional Series
The Real St. Nicholas
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Many families choose not to include Santa Claus as a part of their Christmas celebrations. The legend of Santa, the North Pole, flying reindeer, keeping naughty and nice lists, and coming down the chimney can seem as just too much distraction from the true meaning of Christmas for many Christian families. But, whatever your family chooses to do with Santa Claus, it may be worthwhile to consider the historical St. Nicholas.
“Nicholas lived long ago, in the third century, in a place called Asia Minor, what is now the country of Turkey. His parents died from an illness while Nicholas was a teenager and left him a large inheritance of money. Nicholas’ parents taught him about Jesus. As he grew older, he followed the teachings of Jesus and sold all his possessions, secretly giving money to those in need.
“Nicholas became well-loved by the people and later became the Bishop of Myra. He died on December 6, 343 A.D. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration in his honor, called St. Nicholas Day. On this day, children would give and receive small gifts of candy, chocolate initial letters, or riddles hidden in baked goods or in elaborate packaging. Children also hung stockings by the fire or placed shoes filled with carrots and hay for the horse, eagerly awaiting gifts from St. Nicholas. Gold balls or oranges were given to represent the gifts of gold once given by St. Nicholas.” 1
Influenced by St. Nicholas’ popularity in Europe, immigrants brought his story and tradition to America. Over the years, legend was wedded to historical elements and developed into our modern day Santa Claus.
While we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus, we can have an appropriate appreciation for the lives He has touched. This includes those whose lives demonstrated compassion and selflessness out of their love for Jesus. St. Nicholas was such a person.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What is your family’s stance on Santa Claus as part of your Christmas celebrations? Why?
2. How might considering the historical St. Nicholas actually add to your family’s Christmas celebration rather than distract from it?
FAMILY TIME:
Even if Santa Claus isn’t part of your family’s Christmas celebrations, it’s certain that they will be exposed to images and messages of Santa (television, movies, stores, decorations, family traditions) during the holiday season. At an appropriate point, use the content above to engage your family in a discussion about the historical St. Nicholas and the wonderful example he set as a follower of Jesus. As a family, show some compassion and selflessness by choosing someone (perhaps someone needy) and decide on a meaningful gift you can give this person for Christmas. Together, deliver the gift to this person.
Jim Liebelt is Senior Editor of Publications at HomeWord.
1The Real Santa Claus: The Wonderful Story of St. Nicholas by Jim Burns and Leslie Snyder.
Printed by permission of HomeWord. For additional information on HomeWord, visit www.homeword.com or call 800-397-9725
Christmas Family Devotional Series
The Real St. Nicholas
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Many families choose not to include Santa Claus as a part of their Christmas celebrations. The legend of Santa, the North Pole, flying reindeer, keeping naughty and nice lists, and coming down the chimney can seem as just too much distraction from the true meaning of Christmas for many Christian families. But, whatever your family chooses to do with Santa Claus, it may be worthwhile to consider the historical St. Nicholas.
“Nicholas lived long ago, in the third century, in a place called Asia Minor, what is now the country of Turkey. His parents died from an illness while Nicholas was a teenager and left him a large inheritance of money. Nicholas’ parents taught him about Jesus. As he grew older, he followed the teachings of Jesus and sold all his possessions, secretly giving money to those in need.
“Nicholas became well-loved by the people and later became the Bishop of Myra. He died on December 6, 343 A.D. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration in his honor, called St. Nicholas Day. On this day, children would give and receive small gifts of candy, chocolate initial letters, or riddles hidden in baked goods or in elaborate packaging. Children also hung stockings by the fire or placed shoes filled with carrots and hay for the horse, eagerly awaiting gifts from St. Nicholas. Gold balls or oranges were given to represent the gifts of gold once given by St. Nicholas.” 1
Influenced by St. Nicholas’ popularity in Europe, immigrants brought his story and tradition to America. Over the years, legend was wedded to historical elements and developed into our modern day Santa Claus.
While we celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus, we can have an appropriate appreciation for the lives He has touched. This includes those whose lives demonstrated compassion and selflessness out of their love for Jesus. St. Nicholas was such a person.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What is your family’s stance on Santa Claus as part of your Christmas celebrations? Why?
2. How might considering the historical St. Nicholas actually add to your family’s Christmas celebration rather than distract from it?
FAMILY TIME:
Even if Santa Claus isn’t part of your family’s Christmas celebrations, it’s certain that they will be exposed to images and messages of Santa (television, movies, stores, decorations, family traditions) during the holiday season. At an appropriate point, use the content above to engage your family in a discussion about the historical St. Nicholas and the wonderful example he set as a follower of Jesus. As a family, show some compassion and selflessness by choosing someone (perhaps someone needy) and decide on a meaningful gift you can give this person for Christmas. Together, deliver the gift to this person.
Jim Liebelt is Senior Editor of Publications at HomeWord.
1The Real Santa Claus: The Wonderful Story of St. Nicholas by Jim Burns and Leslie Snyder.
Printed by permission of HomeWord. For additional information on HomeWord, visit www.homeword.com or call 800-397-9725
Christmas: When Your
Heart Grows Three Sizes
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26
In Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the meaning of Christmas. As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes! This heart change makes a big difference in his life.
I’m not sure what Dr. Seuss’ intentions were when he wrote the story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a person’s life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, who was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart – and a new person emerges. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“Welcome Christmas – While we stand – Heart to heart – And hand in hand.”1 It might just make all the difference in the world.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
(from O Little Town of Bethlehem)
We celebrate Christmas because of the power Jesus brought to change our hearts.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Give an example of a time when you changed your mind about something.
2. How did the words or actions of others influence your change of heart?
3. Towards the end of the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” what happened that caused the Grinch to change his mind about Christmas? What lessons might we learn from the story?
4. How has understanding the true meaning of Christmas made a difference in your life?FAMILY TIME:Gather your family together and watch the classic half-hour Christmas cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then, using the content above, lead your family in a discussion about how Jesus has the power to change our hearts.
1How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Copyright © 1957, Dr. Seuss.
Jim Liebelt is Senior Editor of Publications at HomeWord.
Printed by permission of HomeWord. For additional information on HomeWord, visit www.homeword.com or call 800-397-9725.
Christmas: When Your
Heart Grows Three Sizes
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26
In Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the meaning of Christmas. As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes! This heart change makes a big difference in his life.
I’m not sure what Dr. Seuss’ intentions were when he wrote the story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a person’s life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, who was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart – and a new person emerges. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“Welcome Christmas – While we stand – Heart to heart – And hand in hand.”1 It might just make all the difference in the world.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
(from O Little Town of Bethlehem)
We celebrate Christmas because of the power Jesus brought to change our hearts.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Give an example of a time when you changed your mind about something.
2. How did the words or actions of others influence your change of heart?
3. Towards the end of the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” what happened that caused the Grinch to change his mind about Christmas? What lessons might we learn from the story?
4. How has understanding the true meaning of Christmas made a difference in your life?FAMILY TIME:Gather your family together and watch the classic half-hour Christmas cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then, using the content above, lead your family in a discussion about how Jesus has the power to change our hearts.
1How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Copyright © 1957, Dr. Seuss.
Jim Liebelt is Senior Editor of Publications at HomeWord.
Printed by permission of HomeWord. For additional information on HomeWord, visit www.homeword.com or call 800-397-9725.
• • • • •
Parenting Tip
December 15, 2008
View Disobedience as Danger
Not too long ago we were teaching a parenting seminar in Arizona in a local hotel. Just before it started the pastor was in a panic because he couldn’t find his toddler. He ran to the swimming pool, checked the parking lot and looked around the building before coming back inside to find her asleep on a friend’s lap. What relief!
When you see your child in imminent danger, then you’re motivated to do something about it. You wouldn’t say, “I’ll finish talking to this person and then go out and get her.” No, you know the danger and you respond.
In the same way, allowing children to get away with misbehavior is dangerous to their future and to their character. Our children are in danger when we let them continue to disobey or continue to act foolishly or irresponsibly. When we begin to see the danger our children are in, we are more likely to respond to them. We need to see our disciplining of them as rescuing them from danger.
We hear about strong-willed children. Those are children who are hard to work with because of their determination. They have a persistence that tests any parent’s desire for cooperation. What we need is to be strong-willed parents, not in a bad sense of being stubborn or obstinate, but parents who are determined to hang in there in the midst of the struggle.
Recognize the danger of disobedience and take firm action. You will rescue your child from many of the pitfalls of life.
This parenting tip is from the book Home Improvement: The Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
• • • • •
Parenting Tip
December 15, 2008
View Disobedience as Danger
Not too long ago we were teaching a parenting seminar in Arizona in a local hotel. Just before it started the pastor was in a panic because he couldn’t find his toddler. He ran to the swimming pool, checked the parking lot and looked around the building before coming back inside to find her asleep on a friend’s lap. What relief!
When you see your child in imminent danger, then you’re motivated to do something about it. You wouldn’t say, “I’ll finish talking to this person and then go out and get her.” No, you know the danger and you respond.
In the same way, allowing children to get away with misbehavior is dangerous to their future and to their character. Our children are in danger when we let them continue to disobey or continue to act foolishly or irresponsibly. When we begin to see the danger our children are in, we are more likely to respond to them. We need to see our disciplining of them as rescuing them from danger.
We hear about strong-willed children. Those are children who are hard to work with because of their determination. They have a persistence that tests any parent’s desire for cooperation. What we need is to be strong-willed parents, not in a bad sense of being stubborn or obstinate, but parents who are determined to hang in there in the midst of the struggle.
Recognize the danger of disobedience and take firm action. You will rescue your child from many of the pitfalls of life.
This parenting tip is from the book Home Improvement: The Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
• • • • •
Parenting Tip
December 9, 2008
Resolving Anger Doesn’t Require Venting
When we talk about calming down and controlling anger, we don’t mean denying it. Some people may think that controlling anger means ignoring it, pushing it away, or stifling it. That is unproductive. We want to teach children a strategy to address their feelings and manage them in a healthy way. Anger should not be stifled and ignored, but rage does need to be controlled.
Some people believe that the only way to get rid of anger is to drain it by venting. Unfortunately, this venting doesn’t take into consideration the person upon whom that anger is vented. Venting anger is selfish and hurtful to others; it’s a demonstration of a lack of self-control.
Often the expression of anger is harmful and hurtful to other people. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Venting anger may bring immediate resolution on a feeling level. Exploding and venting anger often helps a person feel better. The problem is, allowing children to vent their anger doesn’t teach them how to manage it in a constructive way. So the next time the child feels enraged, he is more likely to be explosive.
The solution is to help children learn to control their emotions and funnel the energy into constructive solutions. The most important key in any anger management plan is to learn to stop and take a break from the situation to settle down and then reenter in a more self controlled way.
Refuse to dialogue with children when they’re angry. Require an angry child to sit in the hall or on the bottom step and settle down before proceeding. If you dialogue with an angry child you may even get angry as well and then a battle will ensue. Don’t let anger control your family dynamics. If your child even begins to get angry, stop the process sooner.
By the way, this works with husbands and wives too!
For a strategy for helping children who struggle with anger, consider the CD available for $6 called Helping Children Deal with Anger, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
• • • • •
Parenting Tip
December 9, 2008
Resolving Anger Doesn’t Require Venting
When we talk about calming down and controlling anger, we don’t mean denying it. Some people may think that controlling anger means ignoring it, pushing it away, or stifling it. That is unproductive. We want to teach children a strategy to address their feelings and manage them in a healthy way. Anger should not be stifled and ignored, but rage does need to be controlled.
Some people believe that the only way to get rid of anger is to drain it by venting. Unfortunately, this venting doesn’t take into consideration the person upon whom that anger is vented. Venting anger is selfish and hurtful to others; it’s a demonstration of a lack of self-control.
Often the expression of anger is harmful and hurtful to other people. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Venting anger may bring immediate resolution on a feeling level. Exploding and venting anger often helps a person feel better. The problem is, allowing children to vent their anger doesn’t teach them how to manage it in a constructive way. So the next time the child feels enraged, he is more likely to be explosive.
The solution is to help children learn to control their emotions and funnel the energy into constructive solutions. The most important key in any anger management plan is to learn to stop and take a break from the situation to settle down and then reenter in a more self controlled way.
Refuse to dialogue with children when they’re angry. Require an angry child to sit in the hall or on the bottom step and settle down before proceeding. If you dialogue with an angry child you may even get angry as well and then a battle will ensue. Don’t let anger control your family dynamics. If your child even begins to get angry, stop the process sooner.
By the way, this works with husbands and wives too!
For a strategy for helping children who struggle with anger, consider the CD available for $6 called Helping Children Deal with Anger, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
