Raising Uncommon Kidsنموونە

Lesson Title: Respect What Your Kids Need to Know
Character Focus: Forgiveness
Prayer Focus: Extended Family
Focus Verse: COL.3.13B

Once we realize the foundation for raising uncommon kids starts at home (and more importantly, within a parent’s heart), we can begin to examine how this manifests itself on the other side of our front door. Thus, the next four lessons will deal with your attitude towards others.

A foundational trait in this effort is forgiveness, and often our biggest mission field can be found within our extended family. We must convey to our children that forgiveness is more about freeing ourselves than excusing others, while at the same time teaching them how to establish healthy boundaries.

For our kids to cultivate a character of forgiveness, they need to understand that none of us is above failure, but it’s how we move forward after failure that matters. Too often we fail and then fall down the slippery slope of unforgiveness, not toward others, but toward ourselves. 

When our kids (falsely) believe we are perfect as parents, we set up a standard they can never fully measure up to and begin to create a culture or resentment in their hearts. In the words of Oswald Chambers, “Don’t seek justice, but never stop extending it.”

Thought to Ponder: Regardless of how you feel ABOUT each other, you have to communicate WITH each other.

Make it Practical: 
I know we are called to cover each other in prayer, but honestly, I’m not the most consistent when it comes to prayer unless I have a plan. A prayer shield allows our family to be intentional about covering those we love in protective prayer on a consistent basis and rallying those same souls to do the same for us. All you need to do is find someone (friends or family you know, love and trust) to commit to praying for your family on the same day of each month. In return, you commit to pray for them and their family on that same day each month. It’s as simple as that! More details can be found in this post: http://www.samicone.com/family-prayer-shield/